Jerry Falade denies AI allegations after losing $2m publishing deal

Nigerian author Jerry Falade has denied using artificial intelligence to write or edit his debut novel after losing a publishing deal worth more than $2 million over allegations that AI may have been used in the manuscript’s development.

Falade’s response comes days after his literary agents withdrew Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body from publication, saying they could no longer verify that the manuscript was produced without the assistance of artificial intelligence despite initially accepting the author’s assurances.

In a statement released after the deal collapsed, Falade insisted the allegations were unfounded and maintained that he wrote the novel himself.

“I didn’t use AI,” the author said, rejecting claims that his manuscript was generated or substantially developed with artificial intelligence.

He argued that Black authors often face greater scrutiny when their work attracts international recognition, suggesting that such suspicions are rarely directed at their white counterparts.

According to Falade, there is a growing assumption that acclaimed works by Black writers must have been produced with technological assistance rather than individual talent.

The author also questioned the reliability of AI-detection software, describing the tools as inaccurate and capable of generating false positives.

He maintained that the manuscript had gone through editors and publishing professionals during the acquisition process without concerns being raised about its authenticity.

Falade’s comments follow the withdrawal of the novel by his literary representatives after they informed publishers they could no longer authenticate how the manuscript evolved from its original draft to completion.

The decision brought an end to what had become one of the year’s biggest publishing acquisitions after the novel reportedly sparked a bidding war involving 14 publishing houses and secured a deal with Macmillan US’s Minotaur imprint worth more than $2 million.

The controversy has reignited debate within the publishing industry over the use of artificial intelligence in creative writing and the reliability of AI-detection tools in determining the originality of literary works.