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Two award-winning Kiwi authors have had their books excluded from contention for the nation's esteemed literary award because of the use of artificial intelligence in designing their book covers.

Exclusion Particulars

The author's story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella set "Angel Train" were submitted for the Ockham 2026 literary prizes and its NZ$65,000 fiction prize in October, but were disqualified the following month because of recently introduced guidelines regarding artificial intelligence use.

The publishing house of the two books, the publisher, stated that the awards committee updated the criteria in August, by which time the cover designs for all submitted title would have previously been finalized.

“It was, therefore, far too late for any publisher to have taken this clause into account in their design briefs,” the publisher noted.

Authors' Reactions

The author voiced understanding for the award administrators, stating she has serious worries about artificial intelligence in artistic industries, but was disappointed by the ruling.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about it,” she remarked. “This marks my 22nd publication and my fourth short story anthology. These tales … were composed over roughly two decades, making this a particularly significant work for me.”

She further stated that authors typically have minimal involvement in cover artwork and was unaware artificial intelligence had been used for her book cover, which displays a cat with human dentition.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” the author said, noting that unlike more tech-savvy age groups, she struggles to recognize AI-generated images.

Johnson feared that the public might think she used artificial intelligence to write her book, which she categorically did not do.

“Instead of talking about my book … and what the inspiration was, we are talking about bloody AI, which I hate.”

In a comment, Elizabeth Smither said that the artists devoted considerable time crafting her book's art, which includes a steam train and an angel partially hidden by smoke, inspired by artist Marc Chagall's figures.

“My primary concern is for the designers: their careful, detailed work … is not being respected,” she stated.

Award Trust's Stance

The trust chair, chair of the book awards trust that oversees the prizes, affirmed the organization maintains a “firm stance on the use of AI in books.”

“We do not make such a decision lightly, one that bars the newest works by two of New Zealand's most respected authors from the 2026 prize,” she said.

“Nevertheless, the rules apply equally to every participant, no matter their standing, and must be enforced uniformly.”

The move to amend the AI criteria was motivated by a aim to support the creative and copyright interests of the nation's writers and artists, she added.

“With artificial intelligence advancing, the trust may need to review and refine these criteria in the future.”

Publishing Considerations

Wilson pointed out that publishers and writers regularly employ software like Grammarly and Photoshop, which utilize AI, and this situation underscored the urgent need for well-defined policies.

“As an industry, we must work together to ensure that this situation does not happen again.”

Both Smither and Johnson have in the past served as judges for sections of the Ockham awards, and both emphasized that cover designs get minimal attention during judging.

“The text itself and its detailed analysis were all that mattered,” the author said.

The use of artificial intelligence in artistic fields has encountered increasing examination as the technology progresses, with some groups developing ways to address its impact.