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

Exclusion Details

Stephanie Johnson's story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella collection "Angel Train" were entered for the 2026 Ockham book awards and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar novel award in October, but were disqualified the next month because of recently introduced rules concerning AI usage.

The publisher of the two titles, Quentin Wilson, explained that the awards committee updated the guidelines in the eighth month, by which point the covers for all submitted title would have already been finalized.

“It was, therefore, far too late for any publisher to have taken this clause into account in their design briefs,” the publisher said.

Authors' Responses

Johnson voiced sympathy for the award organizers, saying she has deep concerns about AI in artistic industries, but was let down by the ruling.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about it,” she remarked. “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 further stated that authors typically have little involvement in book artwork and was did not know AI had been employed for her book cover, which displays a cat with human-like teeth.

“I just thought it was a photograph of a real cat and the teeth had been superimposed, but apparently it wasn’t,” Johnson explained, adding that unlike more tech-savvy age groups, she finds it difficult to recognize computer-created graphics.

The writer worried that the public might think she employed AI to compose her book, 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 said that the designers spent considerable time creating her publication's cover, which includes a steam train and an celestial figure partially hidden by smoke, inspired by artist the artist's figures.

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

Award Trust's Position

The trust chair, head of the award foundation that administers the Ockham awards, affirmed the organization maintains a “firm stance on the application 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,” she 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 support the artistic and intellectual property rights 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.”

Publishing Reflections

Wilson pointed out that publishing houses and authors regularly employ tools like grammar checkers and image editors, which utilize artificial intelligence, and this situation underscored the urgent need for carefully crafted guidelines.

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

Both Smither and Stephanie Johnson have in the past served as judges for sections of the Ockham awards, and both emphasized that covers get minimal consideration during evaluation.

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

The application of artificial intelligence in artistic sectors has encountered growing examination as the technology advances, with some groups developing ways to address its influence.