The key facts
- The Prix Pascal de Littérature IA openly encourages human-AI co-authorship; ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and LLaMA are allowed
- The launch coincided with a scandal: Orléane's publisher confirmed the use of AI in his novel and severed ties, while the author denies the accusations
- Submissions are open, the five-member jury will be revealed at the end of the month and the winner in mid-December; there is no cash prize
A New Award Amid a Literary Scandal
This week, France established the Prix Pascal de Littérature IA, an award for books created in co-authorship with artificial intelligence. Euronews notes that the timing of the launch turned out to be extremely unfortunate: the award appeared after several weeks of disputes over the use of AI by finalists of a number of literary competitions, including the Goncourt Prize — the country's most prestigious literary award.
The Télesphore Orléane Case
Since September, the French literary world has been discussing the case of Canadian-Haitian author Télesphore Orléane, accused of extensive use of AI in the novel «C’était ça ou mourir». The day before, his Canadian publisher confirmed that AI had indeed been used in creating the book and severed ties with the writer. Orléane continues to deny the accusations. In a conversation with Libération journalist Rachid Laïreche, he said he had used external sources for historical research: «I said that I wrote the book; it is not as if it was written by AI. As with translating languages, I used tools», adding that he «expected none of this».
Terms of the Award
The Prix Pascal openly encourages the use of AI, emphasizing on its website that it is «not a technology competition». «AI is already present in writing workshops, in manuscripts and in bookstores, often going unnoticed», the website states. «The Pascal Prize asks the question out loud: what counts as a work of literature when author and machine work together?» Participants must submit a manuscript and a technical dossier indicating the algorithmic assistance used. All major language models are allowed, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and LLaMA. The organizers state: «While others hunt for AI using controversial detection tools, the Prix Pascal invites authors to openly declare its use: no agitation, no lawsuits — transparency as the basis for discussion and collective intelligence».
Founders and Jury
The award was founded by Philippe Rodriguez, Albane Servian and Gilles Mantre — all entrepreneurs in the technology field. Rodriguez is a co-founder of the mergers and acquisitions consulting firm Avolta; Servian is the former chair of the LGBTQ+ magazine Têtu; Mantre teaches at Harvard and Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University. According to them, the award is open to everyone who writes in French, regardless of nationality, place of residence or having a publisher, and the jury is looking for «an unpublished work that will be useful or thought-provoking». Submissions were announced yesterday; the composition of the «jury of five iconic figures» is promised to be revealed by the end of the month, and the winner of the 2026 prize in mid-December. There is no cash prize, but authors are promised help with publication.
Legal Context and Reaction
French legislation does not regulate or prohibit the use of AI for writing literary works, so the award remains legal. However, it has been launched at a time when representatives of creative professions are increasingly speaking out against AI and demanding the introduction of rules and safeguards. The award is named after the mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal; the website emphasizes that he is «the only Western thinker who was simultaneously a pioneer in the field of mechanical devices and a master of language», and quotes his phrase «À mesure qu'on a plus d'esprit, on trouve qu'il y a plus d'hommes originaux».
