This book became the first book to be canceled due to artificial intelligence

When it was Mia Ballard’s self-published novel Taken last June By Hachette Book Group She probably thought she was going to hit the jackpot. Now, she probably wishes she had never been noticed.

Hachette has canceled the US publication of Ballard’s novel Shy Girl, following allegations that generative artificial intelligence was used in its writing.

The horror novel was originally self-published in February 2025, and was traditionally released by Hachette Orbit’s science fiction and fantasy franchise in the UK in November. After the New York Times Provided evidence of the use of artificial intelligence On Shy Girl On Thursday, Hachette canceled its scheduled US spring release and removed the book from its website entirely.

“Hachette remains committed to protecting original creative expression and storytelling,” the publisher said in a statement to The Times.

Authors are required to disclose to Hachette whether artificial intelligence was used in the creation of their work. Ballard denied using AI tools to write the book, claiming that the editor was responsible for parts that appeared to be generated by AI.

“My name has been ruined by something I personally did not do,” Ballard wrote Thursday in an email to The New York Times.

The cancellation of Shy Girl by Hachette marks the first time a major publisher has publicly pulled an existing title due to doubts about its AI-generated prose.

In the past few months, readers connected It raised concerns about the book’s apparent use of artificial intelligence.

Video from YouTuber Frankie rack Provides an extended analysis of the novel, noting the linguistic patterns that characterize AI writing. The video also lists words in Shy Girl that are repeated with unusual frequency (“edge” is used 84 times and “sharp” 159 times), often in abstract and nonsensical ways.

In January, Max Spiro, founder and CEO of Pangram, ran the Shy Girl script through its detection software using artificial intelligence. He claimed that the novel was AI 78% created..

The rise of artificial intelligence has taken the publishing industry by surprise. Although AI writing has already emerged Many self-published bookstraditional publishers like Hachette are more critical of the technology.

Representatives for Hachette did not immediately respond to a request for comment.