Haitian-Canadian Author Thélyson Orélien Denies AI Claims

Thélyson Orélien, a 38-year-old Haitian-Canadian author, won the Prix du Roman Fnac for his debut novel "C’était ça ou mourir" (It Was Either That or Die). However, the award has been marred by allegations that he used artificial intelligence to write nearly the entire book.

The accusations originated from an X account named Balance ton Claude, which claimed to have tested various passages of the novel with an AI-detection tool called Pangram, resulting in a 100% AI identification. Orélien has vehemently denied these allegations, stating they attack his creative integrity.

He emphasized his passion for literature and is compiling evidence with his French and Canadian publishers to prove his authorship. His publisher, Grasset, described the claims as "atrociously injurious" and affirmed the originality of his work.

The controversy arises as Orélien's novel gains traction in France, where he is also a finalist for the Goncourt and Renaudot prizes. The novel narrates the journey of a teacher escaping gang violence in Haiti to find safety in Canada.