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Pangram, an AI Detection Startup, Becomes Publishing's Controversial Arbiter—With Questions Over Its Methods

Confirmed1 source · Sep 2, 2026

A 24-person Brooklyn startup's tool for flagging AI-generated text has become influential in high-profile cases, but questions linger about accuracy, methodology, and the sourcing of analyzed manuscripts.

Pangram, an AI Detection Startup, Becomes Publishing's Controversial Arbiter—With Questions Over Its Methods
Image via Wired

What happened

Pangram, founded in 2023 and cofounded by Max Spero and Bradley Emi, has emerged as the leading AI detection tool in publishing and education. In January, Spero flagged the novel Shy Girl as 78 percent AI-generated after receiving a PDF; his call influenced a New York Times story and led Hachette to cancel the book's release. Pangram subsequently issued detection scores for other high-profile works: the New York Times' Modern Love column (100 percent), a Commonwealth Short Story Prize winner (100 percent), Daggermouth (60 percent), and Call Me, I'll Hide the Body (97 percent). In July, Substack announced it was integrating Pangram into its platform. The company has posted six new job openings that would increase headcount by 25 percent. Spero has acknowledged that his manuscript source in the Shy Girl case came from a piracy website, a fact critics pointed out.

Context

Pangram's rise reflects growing demand to distinguish human from AI-generated writing as language models proliferate. The company uses 'synthetic mirroring'—having AI generate matches to human text to teach its model—and 'hard negative mining' to reduce false positives. Its training datasets are proprietary and reportedly licensed, setting it apart from larger AI companies. However, Pangram's high-profile accusations have generated significant backlash from writers and publishing professionals, with some viewing AI detection tools as ethically problematic as the AI companies themselves. The stakes concern the integrity of creative industries and educational institutions, where distinguishing genuine human authorship from AI-generated content is becoming a competitive and reputational concern.

What's disputed

The precise accuracy and reliability of Pangram's detection methodology are not independently verified in this sourcing. The exact mechanics of how Spero obtained the Shy Girl manuscript and his awareness of its piracy-site origin remain partially unclear from his own account. Spero's characterization of his role in the Shy Girl scandal—claiming people 'overstate' Pangram's importance—contrasts with the reported involvement of his account executive in bringing the story to media attention.