Auckland: Two prominent authors have been disqualified from New Zealand’s prestigious Ockham Book Awards 2026 after it was revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) was used in creating their book covers.
Stephanie Johnson’s collection of short stories and Elizabeth Smither’s book of long fiction had been submitted in the fiction category. However, the awards committee deemed them ineligible under the new AI guidelines.
Stephanie Johnson expressed her disappointment, stating that she was unaware the cover of her book which features a cat with human-like teeth was created using AI. “I believed it was a real image that had been edited. I also worry that people may now assume my book itself was written by AI. The discussion has shifted away from my work to AI, which I don’t appreciate,” she said.
Elizabeth Smither also voiced her regret, noting that the cover of her book which depicts an angel emerging from smoke alongside a steam engine was created after hours of work by professional designers. She expressed sadness that their efforts were overlooked.
Nicola Leggat, an official from the awards trust, emphasized that the institution maintains a strict stance on AI usage to protect the rights of authors and artists, and that the rules apply uniformly to all entrants.
Publishers commented that tools like Grammarly and Photoshop are commonly used in the industry, and the current situation underscores the urgent need for clear and actionable AI guidelines.
