Top French literary prize drops best-selling novel over AI claims

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 29, 2026

The organizers of France’s Prix Goncourt prize removed Thelyson Orelien’s debut novel from their longlist due to credible allegations that it was largely written using artificial intelligence. This decision highlights the growing challenge of verifying human authorship in literature as AI-generated content increasingly disrupts creative fields globally.

The organizers of France’s prestigious Prix Goncourt literary award have removed a best-selling novel from their longlist amid allegations that the work was largely created using artificial intelligence. The decision was announced on Friday and concerns the debut novel "It Was Either That or Die" by Canadian-Haitian author Thelyson Orelien.

The Goncourt Academy, responsible for overseeing the prize, said the move aimed to preserve the integrity of the award and its mission to honor literature genuinely authored by individuals. The academy cited findings from several researchers and journalists who argued that the book was "in all likelihood very largely the product of artificial intelligence." The French literary establishment has faced growing challenges in assessing AI’s role in creative fields, with this case marking a notable controversy.

Orelien, 38, has denied the accusations, insisting he did not use AI to write his novel. He described the campaign against him as racially motivated and an effort to silence his voice. Orelien has also pledged to provide evidence affirming that he is the sole author of the book.

Complicating matters, reports from Quebec media have highlighted instances of plagiarism linked to Orelien’s past work. Montreal-based newspaper La Presse disclosed that a 2013 column authored by Orelien was “almost entirely” a lightly adapted translation of an earlier article from The Philippine Star. Additionally, Radio-Canada found that a novella by Orelien, which won an audience prize in 2010, included phrases copied from “Le matin des magiciens,” a French-language book published in 1960 by Louis Pauwels and Jacques Bergier.

"It Was Either That or Die" is a dramatized narrative drawing on Orelien’s own experiences. The story follows a fictional character’s harrowing journey from gang-ridden Haiti through multiple countries before settling in Canada. The novel has achieved international reach, sold in more than 20 countries including the United States, with French publisher Grasset reportedly paying 300,000 euros for its French rights.

The controversy underscores the broader difficulties in detecting AI-generated content, as various automated tools produce inconsistent results. It also highlights the disruption posed by artificial intelligence to creative industries such as literature, music, and design. Alexandre Gefen, a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and co-author of a book on AI in culture, said the case is unprecedented in France but predicted similar disputes will become more common.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.