Amazon draws its own line between AI-made and AI-assisted

The writer's problem

A self-published author who ran a manuscript through an AI editing tool, or used an AI system to draft part of a book description, needs to know which of those choices Amazon's platform requires disclosing before the book goes live. Kindle Direct Publishing sets out its answer in the Content Guidelines page, a living document that, as retrieved on 16 September 2026, states a specific rule for artificial intelligence content covering text, images and translations.

What the documents show

KDP's definition draws a line between two categories. 'AI-generated' content is text, images or translations 'created by an AI-based tool,' and the guidelines state this label applies 'even if you applied substantial edits afterwards'; authors are required to inform KDP of it when publishing or republishing a book, including AI-generated cover and interior artwork. 'AI-assisted' content is what an author wrote or created personally and then used AI to edit, refine, error-check or brainstorm around; the guidelines state disclosure 'is not necessary' for that category. This is Amazon's own platform rule, not a copyright determination: the same page states authors 'are responsible for verifying' that either category of content meets all other content guidelines, including intellectual-property compliance. The KDP Terms and Conditions, last updated 27 September 2024, back this with a contractual consequence: a breach of the Content Guidelines can mean KDP withholds or reclaims royalties on the affected book.

The editorial choice

An author moving a manuscript through several AI-touched stages, from brainstorming through drafting, line-editing and translation, has to sort each stage against KDP's created-versus-assisted test rather than treat 'I used AI' as one flat fact. This is an editorial checklist, not legal advice: document which tool touched which part of the book, and disclose the categories the guidelines actually name, generated text, generated images and generated translations, rather than guessing at a broader standard the page does not set.

What stays with the author

KDP's guidelines do not resolve who owns an AI-generated passage once it is disclosed, and they do not describe how disclosed AI content is labeled for readers on the book's sales page, if at all. The rule also does not relieve the author of the ordinary duty to ensure disclosed content does not infringe another work; that check is explicitly the author's, under both the Content Guidelines and the underlying Terms.

• Did an AI tool generate this passage outright, or did it edit something the author had already written?
• Is the cover or interior artwork itself AI-generated, separately from the text?
• Has this been checked against the Content Guidelines as currently published, given that a living policy page can change?

The distinction KDP draws is narrow and specific to its own storefront; it should not be read as a general definition of what counts as AI-written for any other retailer or purpose.