Did AI Make That? Etsy Makes It Easier to Tell If a Seller Used AI to Create a Product

Etsy is asking sellers to explain really their products show a human touch while still leaving room for AI-generated designs.

Etsy released caller "Creativity Standards" connected Tuesday designed to "keep commerce human." Sellers are now only allowed to database items that they person made, designed, sourced, aliases handpicked.

Per nan updated seller handbook, AI-generated art is still allowed connected Etsy arsenic agelong arsenic sellers are transparent astir it.

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Etsy says it will region items that neglect to meet these standards.

"Even arsenic devices and technologies disposable to you person evolved, our stance connected keeping Etsy nan go-to spot for original and typical items hasn't changed," Etsy CEO Josh Silverman said successful an announcement video. Credit: Etsy

Effectively immediately, Etsy only allows items that autumn into 1 of 4 categories and requires that sellers usage 1 of nan pursuing tags connected their listings:

1. Made by a seller
2. Designed by a seller
3. Sourced by a seller
4. Handpicked by a seller

"Made by" applies to items for illustration handcrafted jewelry aliases 3D-printed creation that sellers create by manus aliases pinch devices they own.

"Designed by" allows for AI-generated creation prompted by sellers arsenic good arsenic original designs.

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"Sourced by" encompasses items that sellers tin customize and print connected demand while "Handpicked by" refers to vintage items and different point collections that a seller chooses.

Etsy will motorboat a trading run successful nan coming days featuring existent Etsy sellers connected advertisements crossed nan U.S. and U.K.

Credit: Etsy

The Tuesday update sees Etsy taking a clear position connected AI: nan level will let it.

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Etsy promises "unique goods" from "independent sellers," a ngo that differentiates it from different online marketplaces for illustration Amazon. In caller years, successful the property of AI, that ngo has been harder to define.

In nan past year, buyers have noticed AI creation connected nan platform, moreover if sellers aren't transparent astir utilizing it. One purchaser wrote successful a January Reddit station that they bought AI creation disconnected of Etsy without realizing that AI was utilized to make nan piece. The seller made nary mention of AI successful nan explanation and wrote alternatively that nan creation was handmade.

When nan purchaser attempted to return nan AI art, nan seller pointed to their no-refund policy.

The AI-saturated authorities of Etsy has not only made buyers mobility nan value of Etsy purchases but has besides discouraged sellers down original illustrations from trading connected nan platform.

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One seller, who has been listing their handpainted creation connected Etsy for complete 5 years, noticed successful 2023 that income tanked and their original listings were buried nether AI-generated options.

"I [have] been trying to bring my shop backmost to life but astatine this point, I'm wondering if I should conscionable propulsion successful nan towel," nan seller wrote successful a September Reddit post.

Another seller wrote successful a February Reddit post that "the influx of AI, repurposed prints purchased aliases downloaded for free, and group consecutive up copying others successful bulk, seems to person destroyed a batch of markets connected nan site."

That seller wrote successful an update that they chose to marketplace their original illustrations done their ain website alternatively of Etsy.

Etsy's productivity standards look to beryllium a nonstop consequence to sellers and buyers asking for explanation astir whether AI is allowed connected nan platform.

Per Etsy's updated stance, AI-generated activity that sellers punctual connected their ain is still permitted connected nan platform, while AI punctual bundles are not.

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