The Académie Goncourt announced on Friday, September 25, that it was removing Thélyson Orélien's novel "C'était ça ou mourir" from its selection for the Goncourt Prize. This decision comes after allegations of plagiarism and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the writing of the novel. The Académie stated that its decision was made to preserve the integrity of the prize and the institution itself.
Thélyson Orélien, a Canadian-Haitian author, has been embroiled in controversy since the beginning of the week. Initially, he was accused of using AI to write his novel "C'était ça ou mourir". Later, on Thursday, allegations of plagiarism were also made against him. These accusations led to the Académie Goncourt's decision to withdraw his novel from the prize selection.
The Académie Goncourt's decision was justified by the "plagiarism that the author has been guilty of over time, which has recently been revealed, as well as the convergent results of several analyses by credible researchers and journalists". These analyses suggest that "C'était ça ou mourir" is likely to be largely the product of artificial intelligence. The Académie aims to promote and award literature written by humans.
By removing Orélien's novel from the selection, the Académie Goncourt aims to send a clear message that it does not condone or support the creation of texts generated with the help of AI. The institution, presided over by writer Philippe Claudel, will publish its second list of selected novels on October 6. The Goncourt Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in France, scheduled to be awarded on November 4.
Despite the controversy, "C'était ça ou mourir" has been a bestseller during the French literary season. The novel was initially published in Canada and later in France in August. It had previously won the Fnac novel prize on Monday and was part of the selections for other major literary prizes, including the Fémina and Médicis prizes.
The Académie Goncourt's move highlights the challenges posed by the increasing use of AI in literary creation. The institution's decision underscores its commitment to upholding the values of human creativity and originality in literature. As the literary world continues to grapple with these issues, the Académie Goncourt's stance is seen as a significant statement.
The withdrawal of Orélien's novel from the Goncourt Prize selection marks a significant development in the literary world. The controversy surrounding the novel's authorship has sparked a wider debate about the role of AI in creative writing. The Académie Goncourt's decision will likely have implications for the way literary prizes are awarded in the future.
Key points
- The Académie Goncourt removed Thélyson Orélien's novel from its selection due to allegations of plagiarism and use of artificial intelligence.
- The decision aims to preserve the integrity of the Goncourt Prize and promote human creativity in literature.
- The controversy highlights the challenges posed by the increasing use of AI in literary creation.
