🔗 Share this article

A pair of acclaimed Kiwi writers have had their books excluded from contention for the nation's prestigious literature prize because of the utilization of artificial intelligence in creating their book covers.

Exclusion Particulars

The author's short story compilation "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's short novel set "Angel Train" were entered for the 2026 Ockham literary prizes and its NZ$65,000 fiction prize in the tenth month, but were ruled out the following month due to new rules regarding artificial intelligence use.

The publishing house of the two books, Quentin Wilson, explained that the awards committee amended the guidelines in the eighth month, by which point the cover designs for every submitted book 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,” the publisher said.

Writers' Responses

Johnson expressed sympathy for the award administrators, stating she shares serious worries about artificial intelligence in artistic fields, 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 added that authors typically have little involvement in book design and was did not know artificial intelligence had been employed for her cover, which displays a cat with human-like dentition.

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

The writer worried that readers might think she employed AI to write 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 comment, Smither said that the designers devoted hours creating her publication's art, which includes a steam train and an angel partially hidden by smoke, influenced by artist the artist's imagery.

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

Award Committee's Stance

The trust chair, head of the award foundation that administers the Ockham awards, said the trust maintains a “firm stance on the application 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,” Legat said.

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

The decision to revise the AI guidelines was driven by a aim to support the artistic and intellectual property rights of the country'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.”

Industry Reflections

Wilson pointed out that publishers and writers regularly employ tools like grammar checkers and image editors, which incorporate artificial intelligence, and this situation highlighted the pressing need for well-defined policies.

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

Both Elizabeth Smither and Johnson have in the past served as judges for categories of the Ockham awards, and both emphasized that cover designs receive minimal consideration during evaluation.

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

The use of artificial intelligence in creative fields has faced increasing scrutiny as the tech advances, with some groups creating methods to counter its impact.