The key facts
- Les Éditions du Boréal confirmed on October 21 the use of AI in writing the novel “C'était ça ou mourir”
- The publisher will not reprint the novel and will refuse to publish other books by Aurélien
- The exact extent of AI use remains unknown
The publisher changed its position
On October 21, the Canadian publisher Les Éditions du Boréal announced in a press release that, according to information confirmed in recent days, Thélisson Aurélien used artificial intelligence in writing the novel “C'était ça ou mourir”. This contradicts the author's own earlier statements, as the publisher noted, he had repeatedly assured that he had not resorted to AI in creating the book. The statement came just a week after Boréal publicly supported the author, noting that it had no data allowing it to confidently assert the fact of AI use.
Consequences for the author and the book
As a result, the publisher announced that it will not reprint the novel and does not intend to publish other books by Thélisson Aurélien. Boréal emphasized that trust between authors and publishers remains the key issue for them.
Examination of working versions
According to the publisher, amid growing doubts and after Aurélien stated that he would not present any additional materials, Boréal commissioned an external in-depth examination of all working versions of the novel. At the same time, the publisher acknowledged that it is still unknown to what extent AI was used in creating the book, and a definitive answer to this question will probably never be obtained.
Origins of the scandal
The dispute erupted after accusations from the X account “Balance ton Claude”, whose authors claimed to have identified massive use of AI in the novel. The story stirred up the French-language publishing world for several weeks and fueled discussions about the future of the writing profession.
