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A pair of award-winning New Zealand writers have had their works disqualified from consideration for the nation's esteemed literary prize due to the utilization of artificial intelligence in designing their cover art.

Disqualification Details

Stephanie Johnson's story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella set "Angel Train" were entered for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its NZ$65,000 fiction award in October, but were ruled out the following month because of new rules concerning AI use.

The publisher of both books, the publisher, explained that the prize organizers amended the criteria in August, by which time the covers for every entered book would have already been finalized.

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

Writers' Reactions

Johnson voiced sympathy for the award organizers, saying she shares deep concerns about artificial intelligence in artistic industries, 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 typically have minimal input in cover design and was did not know artificial intelligence 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,” the author said, adding that unlike more tech-savvy generations, she struggles to recognize AI-generated graphics.

Johnson worried that readers might assume she employed AI to compose her work, which she categorically did not do.

“Instead of talking about my book … and what the inspiration was, we are talking about bloody AI, which I hate.”

In a comment, Smither expressed that the designers spent considerable time creating her publication's cover, which features a steam train and an celestial figure partially hidden by smoke, influenced by artist Marc Chagall's imagery.

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

Prize Trust's Stance

Nicola Legat, chair of the book awards trust that administers the prizes, said 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.

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

The move to amend the artificial intelligence guidelines was motivated by a desire to protect the artistic and intellectual property rights 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 Reflections

The publisher pointed out that publishing houses and authors often use software like Grammarly and image editors, which incorporate artificial intelligence, and this incident highlighted the pressing need for carefully crafted guidelines.

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

Both Smither and Johnson have previously served as judges for sections of the Ockham awards, and both emphasized that cover designs receive little attention during evaluation.

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

The use of AI in creative fields has encountered increasing examination as the technology advances, with some organizations developing methods to counter its influence.