Author Who Denied Using AI Admits Past Plagiarism

Telison Aurelin, the Haitian-Canadian author and winner of several literary prizes, denied using AI to write his first novel, “Yes or Death,” but in response to recent controversies admitted to plagiarism in his earlier works. The case, which has raised debate over literary authenticity, race, and the role of AI in writing, has engulfed French literary circles.

Haitian-Canadian author and multi-award winning literary prize-winner Talyson Orlin has denied accusations of using artificial intelligence to write his first novel, "Either This or Die," but has admitted to plagiarism in his earlier works in response to recent controversies. This case, which provoked debates about literary authenticity, race and the role of artificial intelligence in writing, has involved French literary circles.

Haitian-Canadian author Talyson Orlin on Tuesday denied allegations that he used artificial intelligence to write his best-selling novel, but admitted that he had committed plagiarism in the past, Ambassador Arjan reported, citing Reuters.

In a letter sent to Reuters and other media outlets by his French publisher, Grasse, Orlin responded in detail for the first time to allegations that his acclaimed novel Either This or Death, published this year, was written using artificial intelligence. He also responded to accusations of plagiarism in his past works.

A little-known X social media account called "Balance Tone Cloud" claimed in September that an AI detection tool had shown that Orlean's 2026 novel was written almost entirely by AI. French columnist Samuel Fitoussi later claimed to be the owner of the account and was running it along with several other unidentified individuals.

Then the Canadian newspaper "La Presse" reported that Aurelien had plagiarized parts of a book by French author Louis Pauls in a short story he wrote in 2012. Also, according to this newspaper, in a memo he published in 2013, he used parts of the "Philippine Star" newspaper without mentioning the source.

Orlin denied using AI, but admitted plagiarism in the past. He said that admiring other writers is not a justification for introducing their works as his writings and described his past actions as "unacceptable mistakes".

"Criticism is always legitimate," he wrote in his letter, "but the threats, media execution and racist harassment I have been subjected to for weeks are intolerable." He added that he wanted his novel to be judged "on what it really is."

These accusations have provoked a wide debate about race, literary merit and originality of works; A discussion that has heavily involved French literary circles.

The novel "Either This or Death", the first novel of 37-year-old Orlin, tells the story of a Haitian immigrant who travels north from Latin America and finally arrives in Canada. This book won several literary awards and was to be translated into several languages.

Orlin wrote in his letter: "I wrote this novel myself. This work originates from my wounds and the wounds of other immigrants; The wound of exile, a wound from which a person will never heal. This novel is the result of that wound; It is the result of my efforts; It is my creation."