Ockham Awards Disqualify Books with AI-Generated Covers

Two notable books by acclaimed New Zealand authors have been disqualified from the prestigious Ockham Book Awards due to their AI-generated cover designs. The short fiction collections, Angel Train by Elizabeth Smither and Obligate Carnivore by Stephanie Johnson, both published by Quentin Wilson of Christchurch, will not compete for the $60,000 fiction prize next year. The decision has sparked significant distress among the authors and their publisher.

The Ockham awards committee informed publishers in August about new eligibility criteria that banned the use of AI in cover designs. Wilson believed that the entries he submitted for the Acorn Jann Medlicott Fiction Prize were compliant until he learned from the designer that the covers relied heavily on AI technology.

“I’m very distressed,” remarked Wilson, acknowledging that the ruling equates to judging the books by their covers rather than their content. He stated, “This is my problem, and I own it,” while expressing his outrage over the decision.

Both authors share similar sentiments regarding the ruling. Johnson, in an email, emphasized her respect for the Ockham awards but expressed her discomfort with the disqualification. “The jettisoning of my book from the competition is deeply unsettling,” she wrote, noting the irony in the situation given her own skepticism about AI in the creative process. “I have never used it in my writing and never will,” she asserted.

In her correspondence with Wilson about the cover image, which featured a cat with human teeth, Johnson initially assumed it was a photograph altered digitally. After learning of the disqualification, she reached out to Belinda Cooke, the awards manager, who reiterated that any AI usage excludes a book from eligibility. Johnson reflected on her own experience judging the 2023 awards, stating that she had not considered cover design in her evaluations.

Cooke was unavailable for further comment but her position remains firm. Johnson later reviewed the judging guidelines, which request that judges assess “literary merit” alongside “quality of illustration and graphic presentation,” including jacket design. This discovery surprised her, as she had not previously focused on these factors.

Her views reflect a broader sentiment among writers who often feel detached from cover design, believing that the essence of a book lies in its writing. Johnson expressed, “What the judges of the Jann Medlicott Prize are looking for is exemplary writing,” emphasizing that the quality of the cover should not influence the judging outcome.

The conversation around AI-generated content is increasingly relevant in the creative industries. Sue Reidy, an established author and book designer, voiced her concerns regarding the implications of the Ockham ban. “The challenge for artists, designers and photographers today is to figure out ways to reinvent themselves despite AI,” she stated. Reidy echoed Johnson’s belief that books should be judged on their literary quality, not their packaging.

While the Ockham Book Awards aim to uphold artistic integrity by eliminating AI-generated covers, this decision raises questions about the impact on talented authors like Smither and Johnson. Their works were poised to compete for recognition, and many in the literary community feel that disqualifying them due to cover design is a harsh penalty.

Both Angel Train and Obligate Carnivore retail for $37.50 and are available in bookstores across New Zealand. Johnson’s book, a collection of short stories, is set to launch on November 19, 2023, at the Women’s Bookshop in Auckland.

As the Ockham Book Awards continue to celebrate New Zealand literature, the controversy surrounding the disqualification highlights the complex relationship between technology and creativity in the modern literary landscape. The decision not only impacts the authors involved but also ignites a broader discussion about the role of AI in artistic expression.