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Etsy tightens its rules on AI-generated images and products
Etsy announces stricter requirements for photos and guides offered on its platform. AI-generated works remain permitted with disclosure, while listings created by bots are prohibited.
Legal disclosure: this content was produced by an artificial intelligence system. Editorial transparency
Etsy has announced tighter rules governing the use of AI in listings, The Verge reports. The company says buyers struggle to identify generated content and sellers are concerned about seeing their creations displayed alongside items that use AI misleadingly.
Each listing must include at least one unedited photo of the actual item against a real background. The first photo must be unedited. Subsequent photos may be modified using software or AI tools, provided they faithfully represent the physical product delivered. When an image appears to be AI-generated, Etsy plans to display a window allowing the seller to indicate whether that is the case.
The rules also cover how-to guides, including patterns, recipes and instructions. Their content must be the seller’s own work and must not be AI-generated. The seller must show a result actually achieved using the guide. Listings created by bots are also prohibited.
The sale of AI-generated art remains permitted if its origin is disclosed. This distinction suggests Etsy is seeking to regulate how faithfully products are presented and the nature of the work being sold. If the product received differs significantly from the listing, the seller may have to issue a refund. However, the system described does not establish how effective image detection is.