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A pair of award-winning New Zealand authors have had their books excluded from consideration for the nation's esteemed literature award due to the utilization of AI in designing their cover art.

Exclusion Particulars

Stephanie Johnson's short story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella set "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its NZ$65,000 fiction award in the tenth month, but were ruled out the next month because of recently introduced guidelines concerning artificial intelligence use.

The publisher of the two titles, the publisher, explained that the prize organizers updated the guidelines in the eighth month, by which point the cover designs for all submitted title would have previously been finalized.

“Consequently, it was much too late for publishers to incorporate this new rule into their design plans,” Wilson noted.

Authors' Responses

The author expressed sympathy for the prize organizers, stating she shares serious worries about artificial intelligence in creative fields, but was let down 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.”

Johnson added that authors typically have minimal involvement in book artwork and was unaware artificial intelligence had been employed for her book cover, which features a cat with human-like teeth.

“I just thought it was a photograph of a real cat and the teeth had been superimposed, but apparently it wasn’t,” the author explained, adding that unlike more tech-savvy age groups, she finds it difficult to identify computer-created images.

Johnson feared that readers might think she employed artificial intelligence to write her book, which she emphatically denied.

“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 expressed that the artists spent considerable time crafting her book's art, which includes a locomotive and an angel partially hidden by smoke, inspired by artist Marc Chagall's imagery.

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

Award Committee's Position

The trust chair, head of the book awards trust that administers the Ockham awards, said the trust maintains a strong position on the use of AI in publications.”

“The trust does not take lightly a decision that prevents the latest works of two of New Zealand’s most esteemed writers from being considered for the 2026 award,” she said.

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

The move to revise the AI criteria was motivated by a desire to support the creative and intellectual property interests of the country's writers and illustrators, she added.

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

Publishing Reflections

The publisher pointed out that publishing houses and authors often employ tools like grammar checkers and Photoshop, which incorporate AI, and this incident highlighted the urgent need for carefully crafted guidelines.

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

Both Smither and Stephanie Johnson have previously served as judges for categories of the prizes, and both stressed that cover designs receive minimal consideration during evaluation.

“The contents and the close reading were everything,” the author said.

The application of artificial intelligence in artistic sectors has faced growing scrutiny as the technology progresses, with some groups creating methods to counter its impact.