The Goncourt Academy has withdrawn the nomination of Canadian–Haitian writer Thélyson Orélien’s novel C’était ça ou mourir (translated as "This or Death") for the prestigious Goncourt prize after allegations emerged that the work may have been produced with the help of artificial intelligence, Le Monde reports.
The book has been one of this year’s literary successes, selling about 35,000 copies. Until last Friday it was also listed as a contender for the prize awarded by the Goncourt Academy, a respected literary society composed of French writers.
The decision followed a post on X (formerly Twitter) in which a previously unknown user uploaded the novel to Pangram, an AI-detection program, and shared the result claiming the text was entirely AI-generated. The X account Balance ton Claude, which has since gained followers, has urged people to moderate their attacks on the author. The original poster also argued that Parisian intellectual circles continue to underestimate AI’s capabilities.
Publisher and author responses
Boréal, the publisher that released the novel this spring, stated that it did not use artificial intelligence after receiving the manuscript. However, the publisher said it is currently unable to either confirm or refute the accusations facing the author. Boréal also announced it had suspended the promotional tour planned for the Canadian–Haitian author’s novel.
Thélyson Orélien has argued in a statement and in remarks to Libération that the repetitions some critics cite as typical of AI-generated text are in fact rooted in Haitian and Caribbean literary traditions. He said he has always valued the creative process and does not understand why he would turn to a machine for assistance. Together with his French and Quebec publishers, he is preparing documentation he says will substantiate his claims.
Possible reasons for the detection and professional reactions
Several French writers, quoted by Euronews, noted that Orélien’s style diverges from classical French literary language: his prose mixes Haitian Creole with Spanish and Portuguese, and incorporates rhythms drawn from orality and aphoristic traditions. That creolized style could be why an AI-detection tool such as Pangram flagged the text.
Why this matters
The case highlights uncertainties at the intersection of artificial intelligence and literature: how to reliably determine whether a manuscript is human- or machine-produced, and what consequences such an accusation has for an author’s career. The withdrawal of a Goncourt nomination also raises questions about the responsibilities of publishers, evaluators and technology providers in verifying allegations and safeguarding authors’ rights.
No further details are yet available about ongoing investigations or the documentation Boréal and the author are preparing.
Caption: the author photographed by AFP / Joel Saget.
