Thélyson Orélien has been removed from the longlist for France’s prestigious Goncourt Prize after allegations surfaced on social media claiming that his novel was largely written by artificial intelligence. The Académie Goncourt, based in Paris, announced the decision on Friday, stating it was made to preserve the integrity of the prize and the academy, which aims to promote literature authored by both men and women.
Background of the Novel
Orélien’s book, C’était ça ou mourir (It Was That or Die), is a lyrical first-person narrative detailing the journey of a history and geography teacher who escapes gang violence in Haiti and travels through 12 countries before settling in Canada. Published by Grasset in August, the novel has sold approximately 35,000 copies and received the Prix du roman Fnac, with translation rights sold to over 20 countries.
Allegations of AI Involvement
The allegations regarding AI involvement emerged on September 21, coinciding with the announcement of the Fnac prize. An anonymous account on X claimed to have analyzed the novel using AI detection software called Pangram, asserting that it was "almost entirely" generated by AI. However, questions have been raised about the accuracy of Pangram, with other AI detection tools suggesting that the book was likely written by a human.
