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A pair of acclaimed Kiwi authors have had their works disqualified from contention for the country's prestigious literature award because of the use of AI in designing their cover art.

Exclusion Details

The author's short story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella set "Angel Train" were entered for the Ockham 2026 book awards and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar novel prize in October, but were disqualified the next thirty days because of new guidelines concerning AI use.

The publishing house of both titles, Quentin Wilson, explained that the prize committee amended the guidelines in August, by which point the covers for all entered book would have already been completed.

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

Authors' Responses

The author voiced sympathy for the award organizers, saying she shares serious worries about AI in artistic industries, but was let down by the decision.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” 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.”

She added that writers typically have minimal input in book design and was unaware AI had been employed for her book cover, which features a cat with human dentition.

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

The writer feared that the public might assume she employed AI to compose her work, which she emphatically denied.

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

In a comment, Elizabeth Smither said that the artists spent considerable time creating her book's art, which features a steam train and an angel partially hidden by smoke, inspired by painter Marc Chagall's imagery.

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

Award Trust's Stance

The trust chair, head of the book awards trust that administers the prizes, said the organization takes 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 said.

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

The decision to amend the AI guidelines was driven by a desire to protect the creative and copyright interests of the country's writers and illustrators, she added.

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

Publishing Considerations

Wilson pointed out that publishing houses and authors often employ software like Grammarly and Photoshop, which incorporate AI, and this situation underscored the urgent 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 been jurors for sections of the prizes, and both emphasized that cover designs receive minimal attention during evaluation.

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

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