Quebec Author Thélyson Orélien
MONTREAL, Oct. 13, 2026 | Quebec novelist Thélyson Orélien admitted to plagiarizing other writers in earlier work but denies using artificial intelligence to write his novel C’était ça ou mourir, according to The Canadian Press reporting on Global News. In a statement released by his publisher, Éditions du Boréal, Orélien apologized for what he called “unacceptable mistakes in his youth.”
What Orélien Admitted and What He Denies
The Canadian Press reports that Orélien rejects the allegations that AI wrote the novel. He says he began writing it in 2017, finished a first draft in 2019, and that no sentence was generated by a machine. The article does not say who made the allegations or describe the evidence behind them.
The fallout has been institutional. The Académie Goncourt removed the novel from its prize selection, and Boréal suspended promotional activities for the book. CTV News reported on Sept. 24 that the publisher had halted promotion after new allegations questioned the originality of his earlier work.
The AI Detection Dispute
TheGrio, citing The Guardian, reports that the AI claims began on Sept. 21, when an anonymous account on X said the AI-detection service Pangram had flagged passages of the novel as AI-generated. TheGrio says those claims have not been independently established. It reports that Le Monde said Pangram flagged more than 95% of the book as AI-generated, while other detection tools reportedly judged it likely human-written, and that experts warn AI detectors can produce false positives.
TheGrio also reports that the Goncourt academy cited the plagiarism allegations and analyses it described as converging on the view that the novel was largely AI-produced, and said its decision aimed “to protect the integrity of the prize.” The outlet notes the move is not an independent judicial or forensic finding that AI wrote the book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Thélyson Orélien admit to using AI?
No. He admitted plagiarizing other writers in earlier work and apologized, but he denies that AI wrote his novel, according to The Canadian Press.
Why was the novel removed from the Goncourt selection?
The Académie Goncourt removed it amid plagiarism allegations and AI-authorship claims, saying the decision aimed to protect the prize’s integrity. The AI claims, which rely on detection tools, have not been independently established.