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A pair of award-winning Kiwi writers have had their works excluded from consideration for the nation's esteemed literary prize because of the utilization of artificial intelligence in creating their book covers.

Exclusion Details

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

The publishing house of both titles, Quentin Wilson, stated that the prize organizers updated the criteria in the eighth month, by which point the cover designs for every 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

Johnson voiced understanding for the award organizers, saying she has serious worries about AI in artistic fields, but was let down by the ruling.

“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.”

Johnson further stated that writers usually have minimal involvement in book artwork and was did not know AI had been used for her cover, which displays a cat with human 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, noting that unlike more tech-savvy generations, she finds it difficult to identify AI-generated images.

The writer feared that readers might assume she used AI to compose her book, which she emphatically did not do.

“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 considerable time creating her publication's cover, which includes a steam train and an angel partially hidden by smoke, influenced by painter the artist's imagery.

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

Award Trust's Position

The trust chair, head of the award foundation that administers the Ockham awards, said the organization maintains a “firm stance on the use of artificial intelligence 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 artificial intelligence criteria was driven by a desire to support the artistic and intellectual property interests of the nation's writers 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

Wilson noted that publishers and authors regularly use software like grammar checkers and image editors, which utilize AI, and this incident underscored the pressing requirement for carefully crafted guidelines.

“Our industry must collaborate to prevent a recurrence of this scenario.”

Both Smither and Johnson have previously been jurors for categories of the prizes, and both stressed that covers receive little attention during evaluation.

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

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