“I Didn’t Use AI” – Nigerian Author Jerry Falade Responds After Losing $2 Million Book Deal

• Jerry Falade has lost a publishing deal worth over $2 million after his literary agents withdrew his novel over concerns they could no longer verify that AI was not used during its development.
• Falade has denied the allegations, arguing that Black authors are disproportionately targeted and that current AI-detection tools are unreliable and capable of producing false positives.

Nigerian author Jerry Falade has lost a publishing deal worth more than $2 million after allegations surfaced that artificial intelligence may have been used in writing or editing his debut crime novel, Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body.

The novel, which was scheduled for publication in 2028, sparked a bidding war involving 14 publishing houses before Macmillan U.S.’s Minotaur imprint reportedly secured the rights. However, Falade’s literary agents later withdrew the manuscript, saying they could no longer verify that AI was not involved in its creation.

According to the agents, they initially accepted Falade’s assurance that the manuscript had been written and edited without AI. However, they later concluded they could no longer authenticate how the manuscript evolved from its original draft to the final version.

Marc Gerald of Europa Content, which handled the U.S. auction, said concerns were first raised by an editor who questioned whether AI had been used. Although the agency initially accepted Falade’s explanation without relying on AI-detection software, it ended its relationship with the author on July 29, citing inconsistencies in his account.

Falade has denied using artificial intelligence, arguing that Black authors are unfairly targeted with AI accusations when their work attracts international attention. He pointed out that some white authors have openly admitted using AI without facing similar consequences.

The author also referenced U.S.-based Black writers Mia Ballard and HM Wolfe, who lost publishing deals earlier this year over similar allegations. He maintained that AI-detection tools are known to produce false positives and insisted that experienced publishing professionals would have identified any genuine misuse of AI during the review process.

The case has reignited debate over the reliability of AI-detection tools and the growing challenges publishers face in verifying the authenticity of creative works.

Reactions

Stephanie Stephy: “This AI self get disadvantage, after cracking your brain, they would tag everything to AI 🤷🤷🤷”

Chimezie Onu: “I read somewhere that professional article writers are now deliberately writing rubbish just to bypass AI detection. If you write in clean and simple English, they will say you use AI.”

Majekodunmi Oseriemen Ebhohon: “Using AI to find out whether someone used AI.”

Franklyn Whitley: “Why was AI discovered in the first place if it’s not to assist creatives. It’s well.”

Ikechukwu Henry: “Reading through every single comment here made me realize not even a single person know how creative fiction publishing industry works. Someone said they’re jealous of his work. 😭As how na?”

Debbie Ella: “For a while now Pinterest keep labeling my digital sketch as Ai modify, meanwhile it isn’t.”

Chukwuka Emmanuel Awele: “They are not serious who created the prompt his time his Brain unua dey maaad.”

Adegoke Morenikeji Muniroh: “It takes brains to actually write a professional prompt for AI to give you outstanding response. You must know how to ask questions.”

Sunday Eze Uchenna: “It’s just a matter of time before everyone will use AI for writing just as we use a calculator today. There was a time when Professors were protesting against it.”

Nicholas Ebiokobo: “Hmm.me.i use ai to fix my Grammer and correct mistakes Abi this one sef go count as wahala?”

Peter Tersugh: “AI that is leaning everyday. Soon it will be impossible to differentiate human written text from that of AI.”