KDP's AI-Content Disclosure Policy: What Authors Need to Know (2026)
When you publish on KDP, Amazon asks whether your content is AI-generated. You must disclose AI-generated text, images or translations — content an AI tool created, even if you edited it afterward. You do NOT need to disclose AI-assisted content, where you created the work and used AI to brainstorm, edit or refine it. The disclosure is internal to Amazon, isn't shown to readers, and doesn't affect your royalties or ranking.
Amazon introduced its AI content policy in September 2023, and it still governs every new title in 2026. The rules aren't complicated, but the distinction between two terms — AI-generated and AI-assisted — decides whether you have to disclose anything at all. Here's exactly what the policy requires.
What is the difference between AI-generated and AI-assisted?
KDP draws a clear line, and only one side requires disclosure:
| Term | Definition (per KDP) | Disclose? |
|---|---|---|
| AI-generated | Text, images or translations an AI tool created — even if you applied substantial edits afterward | Yes |
| AI-assisted | You created the content and used AI to brainstorm, refine, fact-check or edit your own work | No |
In other words: if the AI produced the words or artwork, it's AI-generated and you must tell Amazon. If you produced the work and AI merely helped you improve it, it's AI-assisted and no disclosure is needed. The responsibility for quality, accuracy and rights sits with you either way.
What exactly do you have to disclose?
The disclosure covers three content categories, declared during the publishing flow:
- Text — AI-generated writing in the book's interior.
- Images — AI-generated cover art or interior illustrations.
- Translations — AI-generated translations of your text.
You indicate which categories apply when you set up or re-publish the title. You don't have to specify which tool you used or how much was AI-generated — only that it was.
Does disclosing AI hurt your book's visibility or royalties?
No. Amazon has stated the AI disclosure is internal — it is not displayed on the public product page, and it does not affect your royalties, pricing, or search ranking. The policy exists so Amazon can manage catalog quality and respond to misuse, not to penalize authors who use AI responsibly. There is no downside to disclosing accurately, and a real account risk to failing to disclose when required.
Why did Amazon introduce this policy?
The disclosure rule arrived in September 2023, months after ChatGPT triggered a wave of AI-generated books on Amazon — from fake travel guides to “companion” summaries of real bestsellers. Amazon's response paired the disclosure requirement with a limit on new title uploads, aiming to keep the catalog trustworthy without banning AI outright. Understanding that context helps explain what the policy is really for: it's a quality-and-accountability measure, not a penalty on authors who use AI as a tool.
The Authors Guild publicly welcomed labeling and disclosure as a reasonable first step toward transparency for readers. For working authors, the takeaway is that responsible AI use is fully allowed — the policy simply asks for honesty about what a machine generated versus what you did.
How does this connect to the 3-books-per-day limit?
Alongside the disclosure rule, Amazon added a limit of three new titles per day per account in September 2023 to curb bulk AI-generated uploads. It remains in force in 2026 and affects almost no legitimate author — but it's part of the same anti-abuse framework as the disclosure policy, so it's worth knowing it exists if you ever plan a large simultaneous launch.
Practical advice for authors using AI
- Disclose honestly. If an AI generated substantial text, images or translations you published largely as-is, mark it. It costs you nothing and protects your account.
- Keep a human in the loop. Books that read as pure, unedited AI output attract poor reviews and returns, which genuinely do hurt ranking — the disclosure question is really a nudge to make sure you shaped the final work.
- Verify AI facts. AI tools invent statistics and citations; check everything, especially in nonfiction.
- Own your cover rights. If you used AI for cover art, confirm the tool's commercial-use terms before publishing.