Author accused of using AI to write major prize-winning story

Jamir Nazir’s story The Serpent in the Grove went viral online earlier his year, after being named as a regional winner of the Commonwealth prize in May; not for its literary merit, but mostly because many on social media accused the work of having “obvious markers” of AI use.

The accusations had major consequences - including the literary magazine Granta rescinding its standing agreement to publish the winners.

But they didn't stop Nazir's work from going on to win the major overall prize.

In response to the accusations, the Commonwealth Foundation investigated; looking at drafts, time-stamped documents and notes. “We are satisfied with the testimonies of our writers and their confirmation that AI was not used in their writing,” said foundation director-general Razmi Farook.

The plot was described as "original", as the story focuses on an impoverished Trinidadian farmer, his young wife, and the dire consequences of alcoholism.

What are the AI allegations?

The story apparently "includes multiple 'not x, but y' constructions and lists of three, which some consider to be signs of AI use," Guardian reports.

Some also had an issue with lines such as “Sun on galvanise is a cruel instrument”; “She had the kind of walking that made benches become men”; and “Marsha lived two bends down … [she was] big in the way of women who never apologise to furniture”.

Nazir has said in an official video from the foundation that the iconic VS Naipaul - whose writing is elaborate and elegant - and Derek Walcott, had influenced his work.

The Trinidadian writer has admitted that he used speech-to-text software to help with his multiple drafts.

Nazir's winning of the overall prize has generated a Twitter storm, with one X user saying, "Immensely disappointing and disheartening. It feels like they wanted to stick to their guns after the entire GenAI uproar. I might think twice now before submitting my stories here."

Other comments included,"Pangram flags at 100% but also, come on, if you know you know.” That was from Wharton professor Ethan Mollick.

However, in a statement to the Guardian, director-general Farook said:

“Rather than surrender our judgment to AI-detection software, we asked our winners to show their working drafts, outlines, the evidence of an artistic journey. That software, it must be said, is not infallible: it returns inconsistent verdicts and, in doing so, corrodes the very trust on which a prize depends.”

Main image: Jamir Nazir. Image: Commonwealth prize

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