Philippe Jaenada Wins Prix Goncourt, Says He Used AI in Winning Novel

Philippe Jaenada Takes Prix Goncourt for 1949 True-Crime Novel

French author Philippe Jaenada won the Prix Goncourt on Tuesday for his novel L’inconnue du quai de Javel, securing France’s top literary prize in a single round of voting at the Parisian restaurant Drouot.

The 62-year-old writer received six votes from the jury. De Standaard reported that his closest competitor, Yannick Haenel, received three votes for La solitude des professeurs est infinie. Other finalists included Clémentine Mélois and Sylvain Prudhomme.

A Cold Case Brought to the Forefront

Jaenada’s 500-page book focuses on the 1949 discovery of Louise Cansot’s body on the quai de Javel, a case where the killer was never found. Jury president Philippe Claudel noted that the book brings visibility to a young victim the police largely ignored.

The prize carries a symbolic cash award of 10 euros alongside significant sales momentum. It succeeds Laurent Mauvignier’s previous winning novel, La maison vide.

An Open Admission of Artificial Intelligence Use

The day after receiving the prize, Jaenada told France Inter that he used artificial intelligence three times while writing the book.

The contrast between the two cases drew critical reactions online regarding how different authors are treated under similar circumstances.

Weighing Technology Against Human Craft

Jaenada previously defended this stance to 20 Minutes, asking whether a film director would hide the use of special effects.

“You have to use AI, but first you have to recognize it and above all you have to tame it,” Jaenada said on the radio broadcast, adding that AI will never be able to write a book with a heart, soul, and memories.