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A pair of acclaimed New Zealand authors have had their books disqualified from contention for the nation's esteemed literature award because of the use of AI in creating their cover art.

Disqualification Particulars

The author's story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's short novel collection "Angel Train" were submitted for the Ockham 2026 literary prizes and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar novel prize in the tenth month, but were disqualified the following thirty days due to new guidelines regarding artificial intelligence usage.

The publishing house of the two books, the publisher, stated that the awards committee amended the guidelines in August, by which point the cover designs for every entered 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.

Writers' Responses

The author expressed understanding for the prize organizers, saying she has serious worries about artificial intelligence in artistic industries, but was let down by the decision.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad about it,” 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 added that authors usually have little involvement in cover design and was unaware AI had been employed for her book cover, which displays a cat with human-like teeth.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” the author said, noting that unlike younger age groups, she struggles to recognize AI-generated graphics.

The writer worried that readers might think she employed artificial intelligence to write her work, which she categorically 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, Elizabeth Smither expressed that the artists devoted considerable time crafting her book's cover, which includes a locomotive and an angel partially hidden by smoke, inspired by painter the artist's imagery.

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

Award Committee's Position

The trust chair, head of the book awards trust that administers the Ockham awards, affirmed the trust maintains a strong position on the use of artificial intelligence 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 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 criteria was driven by a desire to protect the artistic and intellectual property rights of the country's writers and artists, she explained.

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

Industry Considerations

The publisher noted that publishing houses and authors often use tools like Grammarly and Photoshop, which incorporate artificial intelligence, and this incident underscored the pressing requirement for well-defined guidelines.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Johnson have in the past served as judges for sections of the Ockham awards, and both stressed that covers receive minimal attention during judging.

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

The use of artificial intelligence in creative fields has encountered increasing examination as the technology advances, with some organizations developing methods to address its impact.