Authors Eliminated from Aotearoa's Premier Literary Prize Following Artificial Intelligence Usage in Book Cover Artwork

Two award-winning Kiwi authors have had their works excluded from contention for the country's esteemed literature prize because of the use of artificial intelligence in creating their cover art.

Disqualification Details

The author's story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and Elizabeth Smither's novella set "Angel Train" were submitted for the Ockham 2026 book awards and its NZ$65,000 fiction prize in the tenth month, but were ruled out the next thirty days because of new guidelines regarding AI usage.

The publisher of the two titles, Quentin Wilson, explained that the prize organizers amended the criteria in August, by which point the cover designs for every entered title would have previously been completed.

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

Writers' Responses

The author expressed sympathy for the prize organizers, saying she has deep concerns about artificial intelligence in artistic industries, but was disappointed by the ruling.

“It would be untrue to claim I am not upset by this,” she commented. “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 writers usually have little involvement in cover design and was did not know artificial intelligence had been used for her book cover, which features a feline with human-like dentition.

“I just thought it was a photograph of a real cat and the teeth had been superimposed, but apparently it wasn’t,” the author said, noting that unlike younger generations, she finds it difficult to identify AI-generated images.

The writer worried that the public might assume she employed artificial intelligence to compose 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 said that the designers devoted considerable time crafting her book's art, which features a steam train and an celestial figure 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,” Smither stated.

Prize Trust'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 AI 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 move to revise the artificial intelligence criteria was driven by a desire to protect the creative and copyright interests of the country's writers and artists, she added.

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

Industry Reflections

The publisher noted that publishers and authors often use tools like Grammarly and image editors, which incorporate AI, and this incident underscored the urgent requirement for carefully crafted guidelines.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Stephanie Johnson have in the past been jurors for sections of the Ockham awards, and both stressed that covers get minimal consideration during judging.

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

The application of artificial intelligence in artistic fields has faced increasing examination as the technology progresses, with some organizations developing ways to counter its impact.