Etsy announced Thursday that it will no longer allow retailers to sell AI-generated recipes or patterns on its online marketplace, as part of a broader push to enact stricter rules for the use of artificial intelligence on its platform.
Etsy said in a blog post that it will ban the sale of “feature guides” created using AI, such as patterns, food recipes, and instructions. Products are typically sold as digital downloads, such as crochet or sewing patterns. Users then “worked hard to complete the finished product,” the company said.
Etsy also said sellers must present actual products made according to instructions, rather than AI-generated or simulated results, so “buyers know what to expect.”
In a separate notice to sellers, Etsy said it was making the changes because AI could undermine buyer and seller trust in the platform.
“Many active buyers now say they don’t know which products contain AI-generated content,” the company wrote. “This is a top three barrier to shopping on Etsy more often. And our seller community tells us they’re concerned about your work being displayed alongside AI-powered products in misleading ways, and that it’s becoming increasingly difficult for buyers to recognize your role in creating the product.”
As part of the move, Etsy said it will prohibit sellers from creating bot-generated listings without human involvement. Sellers are also required to include at least one unedited photo of the actual item they are selling.
Etsy told sellers it would continue to allow AI-generated art on its platform as long as sellers “take a clear role in what they create and are transparent about their process.”
“Sellers must disclose when their products were created using AI, and cannot misrepresent AI-generated works as handmade or completely unique,” the company added.
Founded in 2005, Etsy is known for its mix of products from craft makers and artisans. The company has leaned further into its reputation as it battles an influx of generic mass-produced products from resellers and increased competition from the United States. Amazon and walmartSo are new e-commerce startups like , TikTok, Temu, and Shein.
Misleading AI-generated products and images pose new challenges for Etsy and other online marketplaces. Etsy has struggled in recent years to curb the spread of AI-generated crochet patterns and other AI “slop.” Amazon recently required sellers to label photos and videos featuring AI-generated people, following recent disclosure laws.
While Etsy is cracking down on the use of AI in product listings, it’s also introducing AI technology to more parts of its website. The company used AI to build more detailed profiles of shoppers and surface relevant products in search results.
Etsy also partners with OpenAI for shopping features, including the launch of the ChatGPT app for product discovery.
