+34
Haitian-Canadian author Thélyson Orélien denies AI use after his novel was removed from the Prix Goncourt shortlist over allegations it was written by artificial intelligence.
The French literary world has been rocked by an AI scandal involving Haitian-Canadian author Thélyson Orélien, whose novel It Was Either That or Die (C'était ça ou mourir) was removed from the shortlist of the Prix Goncourt, France's most prestigious literary prize, last Friday. The removal followed claims by an anonymous account on X that the book was written almost entirely by artificial intelligence. The novel, about a Haitian's perilous journey towards Canada through Brazil, Mexico, and the United States, has topped the French bestseller list with about 35,000 copies sold and won the Fnac novel prize last Monday. Orélien, aged 38, emigrated to Canada in 2010 after the devastating earthquake in Haiti that destroyed his home. He denies using AI to write his work.
Goncourt Academy Withdraws Novel Over AI Allegations
The Goncourt Academy, which oversees the Prix Goncourt, withdrew the book from its shortlist due to what it called the consistent findings of analyses by credible researchers and journalists suggesting the book was, in all likelihood, largely the product of artificial intelligence. The allegations were initially raised using Pangram, an AI detection tool described as the gold standard. Orélien's French publisher said he began writing the novel in 2017 and finished a draft in 2019, long before generative AI was commercially available. In a statement last week, Orélien, who is Black, said he had been the victim of numerous racist attacks and is currently compiling a dossier with publishers in France and Quebec to prove his claims.
Samuel Fitoussi, a columnist for the conservative newspaper Le Figaro who has called himself rather right-wing, admitted to being part of the group project behind the X account. But the author of Woke Fiction denies any political motivation, saying he is defending the moral pact that binds an author and his readers and wants to raise awareness about AI-generated writing. In the wake of the AI allegations, Quebec newspaper La Presse published allegations of plagiarism in articles and opinion pieces written by Orélien between 2012 and 2013. These were followed by a Radio-Canada investigation, which found that at least five of Orélien's columns and opinion pieces were partly copied from texts by other authors.
La Presse also found, using Pangram, that Orélien's short story Où va le monde, which won an award in 2012, had at least four identical sentences to Louis Pauwels' 1960 book, Le matin des magiciens. Orélien was contacted by La Presse but did not respond. The scandal puts the spotlight on the reliability of AI detectors and questions expectations of writers, with some French authors arguing AI is now part of our lives and that authorship is evolving.
AI Detectors and Non-English Writing
Orélien has said that the images, repetitions, and rhythms in his work are living speech that belong to him, and that his traditions are Haitian and Caribbean. To test whether non-standard and highly oral French could lead Pangram into error, French AI expert Benoît Raphaël submitted two chapters from two and then four Haitian novels into Pangram. Both were correctly identified as human-created. Raphaël then entered a sample of Orélien's poetry, short prose, and critical writings published before 2023, when generative AI was not sufficiently developed to produce such text. These, too, were identified as human-created.
Raphaël said that before this scandal broke, he had written to another AI expert with his suspicions that Orélien's novel was written with AI assistance. He had spotted telltale signs of AI-generated prose, including an overreliance on certain rhetorical constructions. Studies have shown that Pangram is highly accurate in detecting AI use, with a successful detection rate of over 95% and virtually no false positives. Still, they do happen. Pangram has been used to raise allegations about other recent literary works, including Jamir Nazir's Commonwealth Writers Prize-winning short story, which was officially cleared.
Nazir, a Trinidadian writer of East Indian heritage, told judges his writing process involved using speech-to-text tools, followed by intensive editing, due to chronic health conditions. The case highlights the challenges of relying solely on AI detectors to determine authorship.
Debate Over AI Use in Literature
On French television last week, iconic author Virginie Despentes, whose novels include the Man International Booker shortlisted Vernon Subutex 1, rejected the idea that authors should be held accountable for AI use. She stated that Thélyson Orélien does not have to justify himself, that it has nothing to do with others, and that he writes however he wants, adding a dismissive remark about Pangram. Despentes enjoyed the work's short sentences, powerful metaphors, and episodic nature, which she sees as typical markers of contemporary writing.
Raphaël Doan, co-creator of a 2023 alternative history he openly wrote with ChatGPT, shared the screen with Despentes. The debate reflects broader questions about the role of AI in creative fields and the moral pact between authors and readers. As AI tools become more prevalent, the literary community grapples with defining originality and authenticity.
The scandal has also drawn attention to the potential for AI detectors to produce false positives, particularly with non-standard or highly oral forms of French. Orélien's case raises important questions about bias and the need for thorough verification before making allegations. The Prix Goncourt, one of the most prestigious literary awards in France, now faces scrutiny over its decision to withdraw the novel from its shortlist. The outcome of Orélien's efforts to clear his name could have lasting implications for how AI allegations are handled in the future. The French literary world remains divided, with some defending Orélien and others calling for greater transparency. As the investigation continues, the case underscores the complex intersection of technology, creativity, and cultural identity.
Thélyson Orélien Prix Goncourt AI Detection Pangram French Literature Plagiarism Allegations Samuel Fitoussi
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russell wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Piastri crashes out of thirdGeorge Russell led from start to finish to win a crash-marred Azerbaijan Grand Prix, while Oscar Piastri lost a potential podium with 10 laps to go and Lando Norris crashed out early.
Read more »
George Russell Dominates Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Keeps Title Hopes AliveGeorge Russell capitalised on a crash‑filled race to take his first win at Baku, pushing his championship bid forward. The British driver controlled the field from pole, survived two safety‑car restarts and held off rivals, notably Max Verstappen, to finish first. Mercedes' title contender Kimi Antonelli also recovered strongly, earning fifth place from a 16th‑grid start, while Lando Norris' title bid was interrupted by a clash on a restart. The Azerbaijan GP proved pivotal for both Lewis Hamilton and the midfield, as onlookers watched a dramatic weekend replete with on‑track incidents, strategic pit stops, and tense overtakes.
Read more »
Tomi Adeyemi Won't Watch Children of Blood and Bone Film AdaptationTomi Adeyemi, author of Children of Blood and Bone, says she doesn't plan to watch the film adaptation, as she releases her new novel The Siren.
Read more »
Range by Dorthe Nors review – an astrophysicist at odds with realityIn the Danish writer’s latest novel, an eminent scientist withdraws to the countryside
Read more »