AI-Generated People on Amazon: The Disclosure Rule

If a listing image contains a photorealistic AI-generated person, Amazon requires you to tag the image before uploading it. The mechanism is IPTC metadata: the keyword contains-synthetic-performer added to the dc:subject (XMP) field, which lets Amazon add a disclosure to the image where applicable. This is one of the most consequential 2026 changes for sellers using AI model shots, virtual try-on, or mannequin-to-model conversion — and it is easy to miss.

Evidence boundary: this summary is drawn from Amazon Seller Central's published product image guidance and is pending official verification against your own Seller Central account. Policy details and regional scope change. Confirm the current wording before relying on it.

When the tag applies

Per the published guidance, provide the metadata when the image features people entirely generated by AI — that is, a synthetic person not based on a real individual, rendered photorealistically.

The guidance explicitly says not to tag when:

• the image features real people, even if they were altered with AI-powered tools;
• it features characters from films, games, or other expressive works;
• it contains no people at all;
• the people in the image are not photorealistic.

That second-to-last line matters: a product-only white-background cutout needs no tag. The obligation is attached to synthetic people, not to AI editing in general.

Why sellers get this wrong

Three recurring misreadings:

1. "Only deepfakes need labeling." The published guidance applies to any synthetic human depiction, including stylized illustrations and 3D-rendered avatars used for scale — as long as the person is photorealistic and AI-generated.
2. "I only used AI to touch up a real model, so I'm safe." Correct, but only if the person is genuinely real. The line is whether the person was generated, not whether AI was involved.
3. "A disclosure covers a misleading image." It does not. Tagging does not excuse a generated scene that misrepresents the product, an unsupported claim, or an altered label. See Product fidelity in AI product images.

How to add the metadata

The published method: use an IPTC-compatible metadata editor to add the keyword contains-synthetic-performer to the dc:subject (XMP) field of the image file. Common tools capable of writing XMP include desktop photo editors and dedicated metadata utilities (for example ExifTool-style workflows). Then upload through Seller Central as usual.

Practical notes:

• Do it to the final exported file. Re-saving or re-exporting after tagging can strip metadata. Tag last, then upload.
• Verify the tag survived. Read the metadata back before upload.
• Keep a record. Log which SKU images were tagged, so a later catalog update does not silently drop the metadata.
• Check file format compatibility. Amazon's main image guidance prefers JPEG; confirm the metadata survives in whichever accepted format you use.

A pre-upload checklist

• Does this image contain a person at all?
• Was that person entirely generated by AI, and is the depiction photorealistic?
• If yes: contains-synthetic-performer written into dc:subject (XMP)
• Metadata verified after the final export
• Image still accurately represents the real product (labels, color, count, scale)
• Main image rules met — pure white background, no text/props/badges, correct fill and resolution (full checklist)
• Exported file checked with our Listing Image Compliance Checker
• Current policy wording re-confirmed on Seller Central

Where this intersects with the rest of your image set

The obligation is image-by-image. A seller might have a compliant, untagged white main image; a tagged on-model secondary image; and untagged staged lifestyle scenes with no people. That is a normal, valid mix — but it means the tagging decision belongs in the export workflow, not in a one-time policy review.

For A+ Content and infographics, note that generated people in a module image raise the same question.

What we will not claim

We are not a law firm and this is not legal advice. We do not assert regional scope, enforcement practice, or penalties — those are for the official policy and, where needed, a qualified advisor. We also do not publish unverified vendor claims about automatic compliance tagging. Edited by the CNPulse AImage editorial desk · Updated 2026-11-04. See our Affiliate Disclosure.

FAQ

Does a white-background product-only cutout need the tag? No — the obligation concerns photorealistic AI-generated people. An image with no people is out of scope per the published guidance.

I used AI to remove a blemish on a real model. Do I tag? Per the published guidance, no: images featuring real people (even altered with AI tools) are listed as not requiring the tag.

Can I just write "AI-generated" in the image? No. The published method is IPTC/XMP metadata in dc:subject, not visible text — and text on a main image is prohibited anyway.

Where do I confirm the exact current rule? Amazon Seller Central's product image guide and its "tag media that contains an AI-generated person" help page. Check your own account, since scope can vary.

Editorial note

Independent and unsponsored; AImage does not rank by commission. Policy summary pending official verification — confirm on Amazon Seller Central before publishing. Edited by the CNPulse AImage editorial desk · Updated 2026-11-04.

Hit a real disclosure issue on a listing? Add a community review or read other sellers' reports.