Canadian publisher Boréal ends relationship with novelist Thélyson Orélien over alleged use of AI

The publisher of top-selling Haitian Canadian writer Thélyson Orélien has confirmed the author used artificial intelligence to help write his novel C'était ça ou mourir (It Was Either That or Die). The 38-year-old author had been removed from France's most prestigious literary prize list last month over similar allegations.

Orélien has consistently denied allegations that he used AI on his breakthrough novel. Last week, Canadian publisher Boréal said it was standing by the writer, but on Wednesday, the publisher announced it had conducted a further investigation and found evidence of AI use.

Investigation findings

Boréal stated it did not know the extent of AI's use in the writing process "and we will likely never have a definitive answer." The publisher said it gathered all working versions of the novel and hired an outside party to analyze various drafts.

"The results obtained this week revealed traces of AI tags in the metadata of certain documents," Boréal said. Before this analysis, the publisher had tried to work with Orélien to gather evidence to prove his innocence, but that effort was inconclusive.

Book's fate

The novel about migration had been scheduled for translation in more than 20 countries before the controversy. The book was withdrawn from the list for France's book prize the Prix Goncourt after tests with AI detector Pangram indicated a 100% probability it contained computer-generated text.

Orélien stood firm on Wednesday, telling the French newspaper Libération he used AI "in the creative process" for "historical research." He added that what he is now experiencing has "gone way too far." The author fled his native Haiti after a 2010 earthquake that struck the Caribbean island, already ravaged by poverty and unrest.