At Etsy, we strive to support our creative community while embracing technological innovation. We recognize that many tools used by our sellers today, such as photo editing software, increasingly include AI capabilities that can enhance the creative process and open new artistic possibilities. When sellers use these AI tools, they still make creative decisions and contributions to guide the AI and carefully curate the output to produce unique, finished works for sale.
We understand there are important ongoing conversations regarding the training of AI models, including ethical questions about the use of copyrighted works and concerns about mitigating bias and negative environmental impacts.
As such, we are closely monitoring developments in this rapidly-evolving area, listening to feedback from our community, and periodically reevaluating our policies. We are committed to striking the right balance between enabling our sellers to leverage new creative tools and technologies, while ensuring that Etsy remains a marketplace known for its original items from real people. Maintaining the trust of both our sellers and buyers will always be our top priority.
Seller-prompted AI creations
After carefully considering the complex issues surrounding AI-generated content, we have decided to continue to allow sellers to use their original prompts in combination with AI tools to create the products they sell on Etsy.
Permitted examples might include a fantasy scene based on a seller’s original prompt and produced by an AI generator, or a custom portrait of a buyer’s pet generated using AI tools.
Sellers must disclose within their listing description if an item is created with the use of AI.
Certain AI-related content is not allowed, as described below.
AI-generated content that isn’t allowed
Bot-generated content
To ensure Etsy remains a marketplace rooted in human creativity and connection, we prohibit entirely bot-generated AI content. Every item listed on Etsy must involve direct, individual human prompting, curation, and creative input into that specific item. Mass-automated generation of listings or products through scripts or other automated processes without individualized human oversight is prohibited.
AI-generated functional instructions
AI-generated functional instructions are not allowed on Etsy.
Functional instructions are content whose primary purpose is to instruct a buyer how to make, prepare, build, repair, use, or otherwise complete a specific task or achieve a specific result. Examples include:
- craft patterns, such as knitting, crochet, sewing, embroidery, quilting, or beading patterns;
- recipes;
- building, woodworking, or other project plans;
- instruction or assembly manuals; and
- instructional guides or e-books that provide directions for completing a task or producing a specific result.
Unlike art, functional instructions guide buyers through a process to a specific result. AI-generated instructions may be more likely to contain errors or lead to poor results, and buyers often won't discover the problem until they've already spent time and materials following them. For this reason, Etsy does not allow the instructions themselves to be generated using AI.
AI prompt bundles
While we allow the use of AI tools in the creative process, we prohibit the sale of AI prompt bundles on Etsy. We believe that the prompts used to generate AI artwork are an integral part of the creative process and should not be sold separately from the final artwork. Selling prompt bundles without the accompanying finished artwork undermines the value of the artist's creative input and curation, which are essential to the creation of the unique, creative items that Etsy is known for.
Using AI in listing images
We know it can be helpful to use AI tools to edit your listing images or place your items in specific contexts to show their relative size or how they could be used. But even when AI is used, your listing images must honestly and accurately represent the item a buyer will receive.
Sellers may not use AI image generators or editing tools to alter photos in a way that makes an item look better, higher quality, or materially different than what the buyer will actually receive.
Sellers using AI in their listing images are also required to include at least one unedited photo against a real background. Learn more about our Listing Image Requirements policy.
Fraud of any kind is prohibited on Etsy. This includes using AI to create fake inventory or otherwise misrepresent an item for sale.
Other Etsy policies still apply
AI-created items and content must comply with all other applicable Etsy policies.
For example, AI-generated depictions of nudity or sexual content must follow the rules outlined in our Adult Nudity and Sexual Content Policy. Sellers may also not use AI to create content that infringes on the privacy, publicity, intellectual property, or other rights of another person.
Listings that violate these rules may be removed, and severe or repeated violations may result in permanent shop closure.
Words by Etsy Staff
