Canadian publisher Les Éditions du Boréal has ended its relationship with novelist Thélyson Orélien after confirming he used artificial intelligence to help write his novel "C'était ça ou mourir" (It Was Either That or Die).
Orélien, a 38-year-old Haitian Canadian writer, was withdrawn from France's Prix Goncourt last month following allegations of AI use in the work. The author has repeatedly denied using artificial intelligence.
Les Éditions du Boréal's confirmation of AI use marks a reversal. The publisher had stated last week that it was standing by Orélien over the allegations.
The Prix Goncourt, France's most prestigious literary prize, removed Orélien from its list last month. The controversy centers on his breakthrough novel, which had become a top seller in Canada before the AI allegations emerged.
The case reflects mounting tension in the literary world over AI-generated or AI-assisted content. Publishers, prize committees and readers face unresolved questions about disclosure, authorship and the role of AI tools in creative work. Orélien's insistence that he did not use AI, set against his publisher's confirmation that he did, underscores the dispute over what constitutes acceptable AI use in fiction and how such use should be declared.