🔗 Share this article

A pair of award-winning New Zealand writers have had their works excluded from consideration for the country's prestigious literature award because of the use of artificial intelligence in designing their book covers.

Disqualification Particulars

The author's story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella set "Angel Train" were entered for the 2026 Ockham book awards and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction prize in the tenth month, but were ruled out the following month because of new rules regarding artificial intelligence use.

The publisher of the two titles, the publisher, stated that the awards committee amended the criteria in August, by which point the covers for all entered book would have previously been completed.

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

Writers' Reactions

Johnson voiced sympathy for the award administrators, saying she has serious worries about AI in artistic fields, but was let down by the decision.

“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 usually have minimal involvement in book design and was did not know AI had been employed for her book 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 younger age groups, she struggles to identify computer-created graphics.

The writer worried that the public might think she employed artificial intelligence to write her book, which she categorically denied.

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

In a statement, Smither expressed that the artists spent hours creating her publication's art, 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,” she stated.

Prize Committee's Position

Nicola Legat, chair of the book awards trust that administers the Ockham awards, affirmed the trust maintains a “firm stance on the use of AI 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,” Legat said.

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

The move to revise the AI criteria was motivated by a aim to support the artistic and intellectual property interests of the nation's writers and illustrators, she explained.

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

Publishing Considerations

The publisher noted that publishing houses and authors regularly use tools like grammar checkers and Photoshop, which utilize artificial intelligence, and this situation highlighted the pressing requirement for carefully crafted policies.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Stephanie Johnson have previously been jurors for categories of the prizes, and both stressed that cover designs get little consideration during evaluation.

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

The application of AI in artistic sectors has faced increasing scrutiny as the technology advances, with some groups creating methods to address its impact.