🔗 Share this article

Two acclaimed New Zealand authors have had their works excluded from contention for the country's prestigious literature award because of the utilization of artificial intelligence in creating their book covers.

Exclusion Details

Stephanie Johnson's story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's short novel collection "Angel Train" were entered for the Ockham 2026 literary prizes and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar novel prize in the tenth month, but were disqualified the next month because of recently introduced rules regarding artificial intelligence usage.

The publishing house of the two titles, the publisher, stated that the prize committee amended the guidelines in the eighth month, by which time the cover designs for all submitted book would have already been finalized.

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

Authors' Reactions

The author voiced sympathy for the prize organizers, stating she has serious worries about AI in creative industries, 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 added that authors typically have minimal involvement in cover artwork and was unaware artificial intelligence had been used for her book cover, which displays a feline with human-like teeth.

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

Johnson feared that the public might assume she used artificial intelligence to write her book, which she emphatically did not do.

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

In a statement, Elizabeth Smither said that the artists devoted hours crafting her book's cover, which features a locomotive and an celestial figure partially hidden by smoke, inspired by painter the artist's figures.

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

Award Trust's Stance

Nicola Legat, head of the award foundation that oversees the prizes, said the trust maintains a “firm stance on the application of artificial intelligence in publications.”

“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,” Legat stated.

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

The decision to amend the artificial intelligence criteria was driven by a aim to support the creative and copyright interests of the nation's authors 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 pointed out that publishers and writers regularly employ software like grammar checkers and image editors, which incorporate AI, and this incident underscored the urgent need for carefully crafted 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 prizes, and both emphasized that covers receive minimal attention during evaluation.

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

The application of artificial intelligence in artistic sectors has faced growing examination as the technology advances, with some organizations creating methods to address its influence.