Canadian publisher drops author over alleged AI use in award-winning novel

Canadian publishing house Les Éditions du Boréal has ended its professional relationship with Haitian-Canadian author Thelyson Orelien after an investigation found evidence suggesting that artificial intelligence (AI) had been used in the creation of his award-winning debut novel.

Canadian publishing house Les Éditions du Boréal has ended its professional relationship with Haitian-Canadian author Thelyson Orelien after an investigation found evidence suggesting that artificial intelligence (AI) had been used in the creation of his award-winning debut novel.

The novel C’était ça ou mourir (It Was Either That or Die) received several literary awards and was scheduled for translation into multiple languages. However questions about its authorship emerged last month after an obscure account on X alleged that the book had been written almost entirely using AI.

Orelien had previously denied using AI tools although he acknowledged past instances of plagiarism. He could not immediately be reached for comment following the publisher’s announcement.

In a statement issued on Wednesday Boréal said its investigation included a detailed external analysis of the book’s documents. The examination reportedly identified traces of AI-related markers in the metadata of certain files.

The publisher acknowledged that the investigation could not establish precisely how AI had been used during the novel’s creation. It said there might never be a definitive answer about the extent of the technology’s involvement.

Boréal added that it had initially continued to trust Orelien after the allegations surfaced because he assured the publisher that he had never used AI tools. The company said the findings of its investigation contradicted those assurances.

As a result, Boréal confirmed that it would not print additional copies of C’était ça ou mourir or publish any future works by the author.

The controversy has cast uncertainty over the future of a debut novel that had attracted literary recognition and international translation plans. The publisher’s announcement follows growing scrutiny of AI use in creative writing particularly when questions arise over authorship and the originality of published work.