Canadian publisher cuts ties with award-winning author for AI use in novel

By Halis Sunnetci

ISTANBUL (AA) – Canadian publishing house Editions du Boreal announced Wednesday that it was ending its relationship with Haitian-Canadian author Thelyson Orelien after finding evidence that he used artificial intelligence to write his award-winning novel C’etait ca ou mourir.

The Quebec-based publisher said it would stop reprinting its edition of the novel and would not publish any future books by Orelien.

Boreal said in a statement that new information confirmed in recent days indicated that AI was used during the writing process, contradicting the author's previous assurances.

After examining working versions of the manuscript, an independent analysis commissioned by Boreal identified AI-related markers in the metadata of certain documents.

The publisher acknowledged, however, that it remained unclear how extensively the technology had been used in creating the novel.

Boreal said in a Sept. 24 statement that it could neither confirm nor refute allegations that Orelien used AI to write the novel, adding that it suspended promotional activities while keeping the book available for sale.

Orelien, whose novel won the 2026 Prix du Roman Fnac in September, previously denied the allegations, insisting that no sentence in the book had been generated by AI.

He also acknowledged earlier this month that he plagiarized passages in other writings, describing them as unacceptable mistakes.

The controversy prompted France's prestigious Prix Goncourt to remove the novel from its longlist in September amid allegations of AI-generated writing and plagiarism involving the author's previous work.

The case has fueled debate in the literary world about the use of generative AI, authorship and transparency in the creative process.

Halis Sünnetci