Publisher cuts ties with Quebec author after saying it found evidence of AI use

Les Éditions du Boréal, a Quebec publishing house, has severed ties with author Thélyson Orélien following allegations of artificial intelligence use in the creation of his debut novel. The publisher's statement revealed that metadata analysis of certain documents suggested AI played a role in the writing process. Orélien has not responded to inquiries regarding the claims.

The novel, "C’était ça ou mourir" ("It was either that or dying"), recounts the story of a Haitian refugee's journey to Quebec, based on Orélien's personal experience following the 2010 earthquake. Initially, both the publisher and the author claimed they were investigating the matter to prove the book had not been written using AI.

However, they later decided to take matters into their own hands, ordering an external analysis that uncovered traces of AI markers. The publisher acknowledged that the extent of AI involvement remained unclear and that a definitive answer may never be obtained. Orélien vehemently denied using AI, stating he began writing the novel in 2017 and completed the first draft in 2019.

He admitted to using AI for research purposes but maintained that AI did not contribute to the actual writing of the book. The novel had been set for a new printing, but the controversy led to its withdrawal from consideration for France's prestigious Prix Goncourt. The decision to discontinue the publisher-author relationship has sparked discussions about the trust between authors and publishers and the need for clear communication in such situations.