Entertainment · Books & Arts · 6 hrs ago
Almadía pauses novel events as it investigates suspected AI use
Mexican publisher Almadía has paused events for Donde el agua trabaja, a novel by Peruvian author David Silva Rojas.
The book won the first Almadía-Ventosa Arrufat International Short Novel Prize, which awarded 20,000 euros.
A detector estimated that 99% of the novel was generated by AI, prompting questions about whether the contest rules were followed.
Those rules banned the use of generative AI, and Silva Rojas said he had not used it.
Almadía says its staff and judges saw no sign of AI use when they read the novel, and says it has no reason to doubt the author.
The publisher cautions that automated detectors need to be checked against other evidence, especially when an author’s work and reputation are at stake.
Almadía is conducting a detailed review and has suspended promotional events while it assesses the claim.
Almadía has suspended events for the novel “Donde el agua trabaja” while it investigates allegations that generative AI was used to write it.
The novel, by David Silva Rojas, won the first Almadía-Ventosa Arrufat International Short Novel Prize.
The Pangram detector reportedly found that 99% of the novel was AI-generated.
Almadía said the contest rules prohibited generative AI and that Silva Rojas had declared he did not use it.
The publisher said neither its editorial team nor the jury suspected AI use when reading the novel.
- Who
- Mexican publisher Almadía and the Ventosa-Arrufat Foundation are reviewing the novel by David Silva Rojas.
- What
- Almadía suspended events for “Donde el agua trabaja” while investigating suspected generative AI use.
- When
- The announcement was made on Friday, October 23, 2026.
- Where
- The suspended presentations were in Spain, including a planned event in Madrid.
- Why
- Pangram reportedly detected 99% AI use in the novel, prompting allegations that it breached contest rules.
Pangram's reported finding
Almadía and the author
AI use
Pangram's reported finding
Pangram reportedly found that 99% of the novel was generated with AI.
Almadía and the author
Almadía said its team and jury did not suspect AI use and that the author declared he had not used it.
Assessment
Pangram's reported finding
The detector result prompted allegations that the novel was written almost entirely with AI.
Almadía and the author
Almadía said detector results require interpretation and further analysis, and it would investigate without reaching conclusions in advance.
Almadía said it began receiving comments alleging that the novel had been made with AI.
The novel was scheduled to be presented in Madrid, with further events planned in other Spanish cities.
Almadía announced a detailed review and suspended activities related to the book's presentation.
- Novel
- Donde el agua trabaja
- Author
- David Silva Rojas
- Reported AI score
- 99% according to Pangram
- Award
- First Almadía-Ventosa Arrufat International Short Novel Prize
- Prize money
- 20,000 euros
- Planned presentation
- Madrid, Spain, on October 23, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
We do not have grounds to distrust his word.
During the reading of the novel, neither the jury nor the editorial team thought generative AI had been used.
We consider it necessary to carry out a detailed review without anticipating conclusions and with the care required for an assessment that could affect a work and its author.