Politics

Controversy surrounds Thélyson Orélien's novel accused of using AI

Thélyson Orélien, a winner of the Prix Fnac, is accused of using AI for his novel "C’était ça ou mourir". He refutes these allegations, and Grasset supports the author.

23 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

AI-generatedWritten by an AI system, editorially responsible — how we work

Controversy surrounds Thélyson Orélien's novel accused of using AI — Photo: Bablio27 · Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Thélyson Orélien, a Canadian-Haitian writer, is facing accusations on the social media platform X, claiming that his novel "C’était ça ou mourir" was "almost entirely" written by artificial intelligence. An anonymous account used software called "Pangram" to substantiate these claims, sparking controversy within the literary community.

In response, Orélien denied any use of artificial intelligence in the writing of his book and stated that he is gathering evidence to defend his position. In an interview, he explained that he views these accusations as motivated by racist prejudices but did not provide further details on the evidence he plans to present.

The publisher Grasset expressed its support for Orélien, firmly condemning the malicious statements aimed at the author. It is important to note that Orélien recently received the Prix Fnac, which has heightened the visibility of this controversy.

Archive photo: Controversy surrounds Thélyson Orélien's novel accused of using AI — Archive photoPhoto: Abode of Chaos · Flickr · BY

Some observers point out that these allegations could impact the book's trajectory in the competition for French literary awards. However, no precise indications of the potential impact are provided by sources.

The debate regarding the use of artificial intelligence in literary creation is intensifying, particularly with public figures like Orélien at the center of these discussions. Experts are also questioning the effectiveness of AI detection software, such as Pangram, used to support such allegations.

Meanwhile, Philippe Claudel, president of the Académie Goncourt, commented on the situation, calling for caution regarding accusations of AI use. This controversy highlights complex issues surrounding authorship and literary authenticity.

This item was written by an AI system on the basis of the headlines and short teasers of the independently operating newsrooms named below. We disclose this under Art. 50(4), second subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act). Before publication we check origin and verifiability — anything that appears in only one place is not published — as well as language, substance and legally sensitive content. No separate substantive review of each individual item by a natural person takes place; we therefore do not rely on the exemption in Art. 50(4), second subparagraph, of the AI Act. Editorial responsibility for this publication rests with the person named in the imprint (§ 18 Abs. 2 MStV). Please report errors to [email protected] — we will correct or remove the item. Full reports are available from the sources listed.