US Publisher Cancels $2.4 Million Book Deal Over Suspected AI-Generated Content
A US publisher cancelled a $2.4 million book deal after concerns emerged that the author may have used AI to write the novel, though the author denied the allegation. The cancellation was driven by legal concerns about copyright protection rather than ethical objections to AI use.
What happened
Minotaur Publishers, part of Macmillan, cancelled a $2.4 million book deal with author Jerry Valadez for his unpublished novel "Call Me, I'll Hide the Body" after concerns arose about potential use of AI in writing it.
An editor during the submission process raised concerns about indicators suggesting possible AI use. Valadez's literary agent Sandy Hodgeman then withdrew the manuscript, stating the agency could no longer verify how the manuscript developed from start to completion despite Valadez having affirmed he did not use AI in writing or editing.
Reported impact
Film and television studios that had been competing to buy film and television adaptation rights halted all negotiations once the controversy escalated.
The cancellation reflects broader publishing industry challenges as low-quality AI-generated books proliferate on e-commerce platforms, making it harder for real authors to reach readers.
Index analysis
Specialized AI detection tools reportedly identified what they characterized as indicators suggesting use of the technology in writing the novel.
Valadez denied using AI in writing the novel and characterized the incident as reflecting bias within the publishing sector, asserting that AI detection tools may produce inaccurate results.
Governance controls
Publisher concerns about the deal were driven by legal worries regarding copyright protection if the work contained AI-generated text, rather than ethical objections to the technology.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.