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A pair of award-winning Kiwi authors have had their works disqualified from contention for the nation's prestigious literary prize due to the use of artificial intelligence in designing their book covers.

Disqualification Particulars

Stephanie Johnson's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's short novel collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the Ockham 2026 literary prizes and its NZ$65,000 novel prize in the tenth month, but were disqualified the following thirty days due to new guidelines regarding AI use.

The publishing house of the two books, Quentin Wilson, stated that the awards committee amended the guidelines in August, by which time the cover designs for all entered title would have previously been completed.

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

Writers' Responses

The author expressed sympathy for the prize administrators, saying she has deep concerns about AI in artistic fields, but was disappointed by the decision.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about it,” she commented. “It’s my 22nd book, and it is my fourth collection of short stories. These stories … were written over a sort of 20 year period, so for me, it’s quite an important book.”

Johnson further stated that authors usually have minimal input in cover artwork and was unaware artificial intelligence had been employed for her cover, which displays a cat with human 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 explained, noting that unlike more tech-savvy age groups, she finds it difficult to recognize computer-created images.

The writer worried that readers might assume she employed artificial intelligence to compose her work, which she categorically denied.

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

In a comment, Smither said that the artists devoted considerable time creating her book's cover, which features a steam train and an angel partially hidden by smoke, influenced by painter Marc Chagall's imagery.

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

Award Committee's Stance

Nicola Legat, head of the award foundation that administers the prizes, affirmed the organization maintains a “firm stance on the use of artificial intelligence 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,” Legat said.

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

The move to revise the AI criteria was motivated by a desire to support the artistic and copyright rights of the country's writers and illustrators, she added.

“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 authors regularly employ software like Grammarly and image editors, which incorporate artificial intelligence, and this incident highlighted the urgent need for well-defined policies.

“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 categories of the prizes, and both emphasized that covers receive little consideration during judging.

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

The use of AI in creative sectors has encountered growing scrutiny as the technology advances, with some groups developing ways to counter its influence.