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Two acclaimed Kiwi authors have had their books excluded from contention for the nation's esteemed literature award because of the utilization of AI in designing their book covers.

Exclusion Particulars

Stephanie Johnson's short story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella set "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham book awards and its NZ$65,000 novel prize in October, but were ruled out the next thirty days due to new rules regarding AI use.

The publisher of both books, the publisher, stated that the prize committee updated the criteria in August, by which time the covers for every submitted book would have already been completed.

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

Authors' Reactions

The author expressed sympathy for the prize administrators, saying she has serious worries about artificial intelligence in creative industries, but was let down by the ruling.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” she commented. “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 added that writers typically have little involvement in cover design and was did not know AI had been used for her book cover, which displays a cat with human-like dentition.

“I just thought it was a photograph of a real cat and the teeth had been superimposed, but apparently it wasn’t,” the author said, adding that unlike younger age groups, she finds it difficult to recognize AI-generated graphics.

Johnson worried that the public might think she employed artificial intelligence to compose her book, which she emphatically denied.

“Rather than discussing my book's themes and inspirations, we're focused on this AI issue, which I despise.”

In a statement, Smither said that the designers devoted hours creating her publication's art, which features a locomotive and an celestial figure “half-obscured in the smoke”, influenced by artist the artist's figures.

“It is them I am most concerned about: that their meticulous work … is being disrespected,” she remarked.

Prize Trust's Position

The trust chair, head of the award foundation that administers the Ockham awards, said the trust takes a “firm stance on the use of AI in books.”

“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,” Legat said.

“However, the criteria apply to all entrants, regardless of their mana [status], and must be consistently applied to all.”

The decision to revise the AI guidelines was motivated by a aim to protect the artistic and copyright interests of the country's authors and artists, she explained.

“As AI evolves, there may well be a need for the trust to revisit and develop the criteria further.”

Industry Reflections

The publisher pointed out that publishing houses and writers often use tools like Grammarly and image editors, which utilize AI, and this situation underscored the pressing requirement for well-defined guidelines.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Stephanie Johnson have previously served as judges for sections of the prizes, and both stressed that cover designs receive little attention during judging.

“The contents and the close reading were everything,” Smither concluded.

The use of artificial intelligence in creative fields has encountered growing scrutiny as the technology advances, with some groups creating ways to address its influence.