Key facts
- Boréal confirmed AI was used in the writing of Orélien's novel C’était ça ou mourir.
- The publisher cited "traces of AI tags in the metadata of certain documents" as evidence.
- Orélien denied using AI for sentence creation but admitted to using it for research.
- The novel was previously withdrawn from the Prix Goncourt prize list due to AI detection tests.
Canadian publisher Les Éditions du Boréal announced on Wednesday that it is ending its professional relationship with author Thélyson Orélien after an investigation confirmed the use of artificial intelligence in his novel, C’était ça ou mourir. The publisher stated that new information, confirmed in recent days, indicated AI was used in the writing process. Boréal cited "traces of AI tags in the metadata of certain documents" as evidence, though it acknowledged the full extent of AI's use may never be definitively known. Orélien, who writes about migration, had previously denied using AI to create sentences, stating he used tools for research and historical context. The novel had already been withdrawn from the list for France’s Prix Goncourt prize after AI detection tests indicated a high probability of computer-generated text. Orélien previously admitted to "unacceptable mistakes" in past writing related to plagiarism.