The Goncourt Academy, organizers of France's top literary prize, announced on Friday that they had removed a novel by Canadian-Haitian writer Thélyson Orélien from its longlist. The decision comes after online claims surfaced that artificial intelligence was used to write parts of the book, titled "It Was Either That or Die". The Academy stated that the move was made to preserve the integrity of the prize and the Academy itself.
Thélyson Orélien, a 38-year-old previously unknown writer, has vehemently denied the allegations, stating that he has always loved creating and writing and doesn't see why he would use a machine. He is currently working on putting together a file with his publishers to prove that he wrote the book himself. The book was initially included in the longlist of over a dozen titles competing for the prestigious prize, with the winner set to be announced in November.
The controversy surrounding Orélien's novel sent shockwaves through the French literary world and raised questions worldwide about how literature will manage the rise of AI. The Goncourt Academy cited findings indicating that the book is "in all likelihood, very largely the product of artificial intelligence" and also noted accusations of plagiarism. The withdrawal of the book from the list is seen as a clear message that the Academy does not endorse or sanction the creation of texts generated with the help of AI.
The collective behind the "Balance ton Claude" account, which first raised the allegations, includes French essayist and commentator Samuel Fitoussi. Fitoussi stated that he was part of the collective and had acted out of fear that AI would cause the disappearance of reading and writing. He added that as glitches are ironed out with time, AI will increasingly be able to produce exceptional works in near autonomy.
The Canada-based publisher Boreal, which published Orélien's book in the spring, announced the suspension of promotional activities for the book to ensure the "well-being of Thélyson Orélien". The publisher stated that it was impossible to confirm or refute the allegations facing the author at this stage and urged people not to jump to conclusions.
The longlist for the Prix Goncourt is set to be whittled down to a shortlist on October 6. The controversy surrounding Orélien's novel has sparked a wider debate about the role of AI in literature and the importance of preserving the integrity of literary prizes. Orélien's book was set to appear in more than 20 countries, making the controversy a significant development in the literary world.
The Goncourt Academy's decision to remove Orélien's novel from the longlist has been seen as a significant move to protect the integrity of the prize. The Academy's central role is to promote and honour literature written by women and men, and the decision is seen as a commitment to upholding this mission. The controversy will likely continue to be debated in the literary world in the coming weeks and months.
Key points
- The Goncourt Academy removed Thélyson Orélien's novel from the longlist due to allegations of AI use.
- Thélyson Orélien has denied the allegations, stating that he wrote the book himself.
- The controversy has sparked a wider debate about the role of AI in literature and the importance of preserving the integrity of literary prizes.
