The French literary scene is reeling from allegations against Canadian-Haitian author Tellison Aurélien. The 38-year-old creator, who recently secured the Prix du Roman Fnac for his novel C’était ça ou mourir ("This or Death"), is being accused by the group "Balance ton Claude" of extensive reliance on artificial intelligence.
The Software Verdict
The group claims that an analysis of the text using the Pangram detection software yielded a "100% AI" result. These allegations have surfaced just as Aurélien is positioned as a finalist for the prestigious Goncourt and Renaudot prizes, casting a shadow over his sudden literary ascent.
The Author's Defense
Aurélien has categorically denied the claims. Speaking to Libération, he stated that he cannot understand the need to use a machine, emphasizing that the book's first draft was completed in 2019—well before the mainstream explosion of generative AI tools. "My traditions are Haitian and Caribbean. The images, the repetitions, and the rhythms are the living word; they are mine," he asserted.
His publisher, Grasset, has stood firmly by his side, describing the accusations as "extremely offensive" to an author with an exceptional life story. Experts noted that AI detectors often struggle with cultural idioms and specific linguistic patterns, which can lead to false positives. The case mirrors that of author Jameer Nazir, who was eventually cleared of similar charges after organizers were convinced of his work's authenticity.
- The novel follows a teacher fleeing gang violence in Haiti for Canada.
- The work is currently a commercial success, with translation rights sold in 20 languages.
- The author and publisher are preparing a dossier to prove the work's manual authorship.
