🔗 Share this article

Two acclaimed New Zealand authors have had their books disqualified from consideration for the nation's prestigious literature prize due to the utilization of artificial intelligence in designing their book covers.

Exclusion Particulars

The author's story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella 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 next thirty days due to new guidelines concerning artificial intelligence usage.

The publishing house of the two titles, the publisher, stated that the prize organizers amended 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,” the publisher said.

Authors' Responses

Johnson expressed sympathy for the prize organizers, stating she shares serious worries about artificial intelligence in artistic fields, but was disappointed by the ruling.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about it,” she remarked. “This marks my 22nd publication and my fourth short story anthology. These tales … were composed over roughly two decades, making this a particularly significant work for me.”

Johnson further stated that writers usually have minimal involvement in cover artwork and was did not know AI had been employed for her cover, which features 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, noting that unlike more tech-savvy generations, she finds it difficult to recognize AI-generated graphics.

The writer feared that readers might think she used AI to write her work, 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 comment, Smither said that the designers devoted considerable time crafting her publication's cover, which features a steam train and an celestial figure “half-obscured in the smoke”, inspired by painter Marc Chagall's imagery.

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

Prize Committee's Stance

Nicola Legat, chair of the award foundation that oversees the Ockham awards, affirmed the trust maintains a strong position on the application 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,” she stated.

“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 aim to support the creative and intellectual property rights of the nation's writers and illustrators, she explained.

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

Industry Considerations

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

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Johnson have previously been jurors for categories of the Ockham awards, and both stressed that cover designs get minimal attention during evaluation.

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

The application of AI in artistic fields has faced increasing scrutiny as the technology progresses, with some groups developing ways to address its impact.