Change post author without using wp_update_post()

On the few occasions when I’ve needed to do something similar, I’ve used the callback unattach-update-reattach method, which is also described on this older Q&A, Update post on save and on the developer docs comments.

function your_save_post_callback( $post_id, $post, $update ) {
    // unattach the callback
    remove_action('save_post', 'your_save_post_callback');

    // update post
    wp_update_post( $args );

    // reattach the callback
    add_action('save_post', 'your_save_post_callback');
}