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A pair of award-winning Kiwi writers have had their books disqualified from consideration for the country's esteemed literature prize due to the use of artificial intelligence in creating their cover art.

Exclusion Details

The author's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella set "Angel Train" were submitted for the Ockham 2026 literary prizes and its NZ$65,000 novel prize in October, but were disqualified the following month due to recently introduced guidelines regarding artificial intelligence use.

The publishing house of both books, Quentin Wilson, stated that the awards committee updated the criteria in August, by which time the covers for every entered 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.

Writers' Reactions

The author expressed sympathy for the award organizers, saying she has serious worries about AI in creative industries, but was let down by the decision.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” she commented. “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 typically have little involvement in cover artwork and was did not know artificial intelligence had been employed for her cover, which features a cat with human teeth.

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

The writer feared that readers might think she employed AI to write her work, which she categorically denied.

“Rather than discussing my book's themes and inspirations, we're focused on this AI issue, which I despise.”

In a statement, Elizabeth Smither expressed that the artists spent considerable time crafting her publication's art, which includes a locomotive and an celestial figure partially hidden by smoke, influenced by painter Marc Chagall's figures.

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

Prize Trust's Position

Nicola Legat, head of the book awards trust that oversees the prizes, said the organization maintains a “firm stance 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.

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

The decision to revise the AI criteria was motivated by a desire to protect the artistic and intellectual property interests of the country's authors and artists, she explained.

“As AI evolves, there may well be a need for the trust to revisit and develop the criteria further.”

Publishing Considerations

Wilson noted that publishers and authors regularly employ software like Grammarly and image editors, which incorporate AI, and this situation underscored the pressing requirement for well-defined guidelines.

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

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

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

The use of AI in creative fields has encountered increasing scrutiny as the technology advances, with some groups developing ways to address its impact.