[US Author Accused by AI, New Tools Help Prove Originality] According to WIRED, in March 2026, after widespread speculation on social media that the horror novel *Shy Girl* was largely generated by AI, Hachette Books cancelled its US publication plans for the novel and halted its release in the UK. According to the AI detection tool Pangram, approximately 78% of the book's text was AI-generated. Author Mia Ballard denied using AI in her writing, claiming that editors had made AI-assisted modifications to a previous self-published version, and stated that she was taking legal action. Several other novelists have subsequently faced similar AI accusations, all of which they denied. Author Bartz stated that once accusations arise, the damage is already done, and currently, authors lack a universally accepted standard for proving human creation. Platforms such as Workings, Blindproof, Wintertext, Human Ink, and ObraVera promise to track and record the author's writing process; some tools encrypt text or typing rhythm and generate unique codes to create a creative record. The Authors Guild of America CEO Mary Rasenberger stated that the guild does not recommend any single tool, but hopes authors are aware that these tools can serve as a safety net.