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Two acclaimed New Zealand authors have had their books excluded from contention for the nation's prestigious literature award due to the utilization of artificial intelligence in designing their cover art.

Disqualification Details

The author's story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's short novel collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction prize in October, but were disqualified the following month due to new rules concerning artificial intelligence usage.

The publisher of both books, Quentin Wilson, explained that the prize organizers updated the criteria in August, by which point the covers for every submitted title would have already been finalized.

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

Writers' Responses

The author expressed understanding for the prize organizers, stating she shares serious worries about artificial intelligence in artistic industries, but was let down by the decision.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” 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.”

She added that writers typically have minimal input in book artwork and was did not know AI had been employed for her cover, which displays a feline with human teeth.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” Johnson explained, adding that unlike more tech-savvy generations, she finds it difficult to recognize AI-generated images.

The writer feared that the public might think she used artificial intelligence to compose her work, 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 comment, Elizabeth Smither said that the artists devoted considerable time crafting her publication's cover, which includes a steam train and an celestial figure “half-obscured in the smoke”, inspired by painter the artist's figures.

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

Prize Committee's Position

The trust chair, head of the award foundation that oversees the Ockham awards, said the trust takes a “firm stance on the use of artificial intelligence 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 stated.

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

The move to revise the artificial intelligence criteria was driven by a aim to support the creative and intellectual property interests of the nation's writers and illustrators, she added.

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

Publishing Considerations

Wilson noted that publishers and authors often use software like grammar checkers and Photoshop, which incorporate AI, and this incident 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 Elizabeth Smither and Stephanie Johnson have in the past been jurors for sections of the Ockham awards, and both emphasized that cover designs receive little attention during evaluation.

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

The application of AI in artistic fields has faced increasing examination as the technology advances, with some groups developing ways to address its influence.