🔗 Share this article

A pair of award-winning New Zealand writers have had their books excluded from consideration for the country's esteemed literature award due to the use of AI in designing their book covers.

Disqualification Details

Stephanie Johnson's short story collection "Obligate Carnivore" and the writer's novella collection "Angel Train" were entered for the 2026 Ockham book awards and its $65,000 New Zealand dollar fiction award in October, but were disqualified the following month because of recently introduced guidelines regarding artificial intelligence use.

The publishing house of the two titles, Quentin Wilson, stated that the awards committee amended the criteria in the eighth month, by which point the cover designs for every submitted book would have already been finalized.

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

Writers' Responses

The author expressed sympathy for the prize administrators, saying she shares deep concerns about AI in creative fields, but was disappointed by the ruling.

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

She further stated that writers typically have little involvement in cover artwork and was unaware AI had been employed for her cover, which displays a feline with human dentition.

“I believed it was an actual cat photo with superimposed teeth, but that was not the case,” Johnson explained, noting that unlike more tech-savvy generations, she struggles to identify computer-created images.

The writer feared that readers might think she employed AI to write her book, which she emphatically did not do.

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

In a statement, Smither said that the designers spent hours creating her book's art, which features a steam train and an celestial figure “half-obscured in the smoke”, influenced by painter Marc Chagall's imagery.

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

Prize Committee's Stance

The trust chair, chair of the book awards trust that oversees the prizes, affirmed the trust maintains a strong position on the use of AI in books.”

“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 revise the AI criteria was motivated by a aim to support the creative and copyright interests of the nation's writers and illustrators, she added.

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

Publishing Reflections

Wilson pointed out that publishing houses and writers often use tools like grammar checkers and image editors, which utilize artificial intelligence, and this situation highlighted the pressing need for carefully crafted guidelines.

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

Both Smither and Stephanie Johnson have in the past been jurors for categories of the prizes, and both stressed that covers get minimal consideration during evaluation.

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

The use of AI in creative fields has faced growing examination as the technology progresses, with some organizations creating methods to address its influence.