This Book Just Became the First to Get Canceled for AI
When Mia Ballard’s self-published novel was picked up last June by Hachette Book Group, she probably thought she’d hit the jackpot. Now she might wish she had never been noticed.
Hachette has canceled the US publication of Ballard’s novel Shy Girl, following allegations that generative AI was used in its writing.
Originally self-published in February 2025, the horror novel was traditionally published by Hachette’s science fiction and fantasy imprint, Orbit, in the UK in November. After The New York Times on Thursday provided evidence of the use of AI in Shy Girl, Hachette canceled the planned spring release in the United States 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 AI was used in the creation of their work. Ballard has denied using AI tools to write the book, saying an editor was responsible for parts that appear to be AI-generated.
“My name is ruined for something I didn’t even personally do,” Ballard wrote in an email to The New York Times on Thursday.
The cancellation of Hachette’s Shy Girl marks the first time a major publisher has publicly withdrawn an existing title due to suspicions of AI-generated prose.
In recent months, online readers have raised concerns about the book’s apparent use of AI.
A video by YouTuber Frankie’s Shelf provides a lengthy analysis of the novel, highlighting linguistic patterns characteristic of AI writing. The video also lists Shy Girl’s words being repeated with unusual frequency (“edge” is used 84 times and “Sharp” 159 times), often in abstract and nonsensical ways.
In January, Max Spero, founder and CEO of Pangram, analyzed Shy Girl’s text through his AI detection program. He claimed that the novel was 78% generated by AI.
The rise of AI has taken the publishing industry by surprise. Although writing about AI has already appeared in many self-published books, traditional publishers like Hachette are more critical of the technology.
Hachette representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
