The Goncourt Academy, known for awarding France's top literary prize, has withdrawn Thélyson Orélien"C'était ça ou mourir" from its first selection. The decision was based on accusations of plagiarism and analyses suggesting that much of the book was likely written with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
See also: France: France Travail fined for data breach
Thélyson Orélien, an emerging Haitian writer, adamantly denies using AI in his writing. His debut novel follows the story of a Haitian immigrant as he travels across Latin America before arriving in Canada. The narrative brings to the fore the challenges and hopes of immigrants, offering a deeply human perspective on a global issue.
The Goncourt Academy, in a statement, said the decision was based on “the convergent result of numerous analyses by credible researchers and journalists.” These analyses argued that the novel is “in all likelihood very much the product of an artificial intelligence.” In addition, the academy cited previous cases of plagiarism by Orélien, which have only recently come to light.
The academy’s decision to withdraw the novel has wider implications for the literary community. The academy said its role is “to promote and celebrate literature written by women and men.” With this move, it seeks to send a clear message to students in the Goncourt des Lycéens, to prisoners in the Goncourt des Détenus, and to more than 50 Choix Goncourt committees abroad that it does not support the creation of texts with the help of AI.
The case has sparked heated debate about the use of artificial intelligence in literature. Some experts question the reliability of AI detection tools, as French media found other detectors that assessed the novel as very likely human writing. This uncertainty highlights the need for more sophisticated tools and methods that can accurately distinguish the contribution of AI to the creation of texts.
See also: France Travail: Data breach affects 43 million people
Subsequent accusations of plagiarism have added weight to the case. Libération reported that a 2012 award-winning short story by Orélien copied a foreword by Louis Pauwels, while La Presse reported that a 2013 opinion piece was copied from The Philippine Star. These revelations have damaged the author’s credibility and raised concerns among his publishers.
Orélien, 38, calls the AI accusation racist. In an interview with Libération, he argued that the novel’s rhythms come from Haitian and Caribbean linguistic traditions, stressing that “image, repetition and rhythm are a living language, they are mine.” Despite his statements, he has not responded to the plagiarism allegations and did not respond to a request for comment.
The novel “C’était ça ou mourir” was published by Grasset in France in August and has sold about 35,000 copies. Publishers in more than 20 countries have bought translation rights, indicating interest in Orélien’s work internationally. However, his original Canadian publisher, Éditions du Boréal, expressed concern about the plagiarism allegations and condemned “the hateful messages and personal attacks of recent days.”
See also: Young hacker used Tailscale and OpenSSH to hack into French car manufacturer
This case highlights the challenges facing the literary community in the age of artificial intelligence and raises questions about authenticity and ethics in the creation of literary works. The decision by the Goncourt Academy to withdraw Orélien's novel sets an important precedent and may influence future decisions about the use of AI in literature.
