Etsy is scuffling with an influx of generic “junk” and AI-generated products on its platform. The service revamped its Seller policy on Tuesday by introducing recent labels that make clear whether a seller has manufactured, designed, sourced or handpicked an item. This is the primary time the location has directly addressed artificial intelligence in its seller policy, with the addition of clear guidelines on what the location will and won't accept.
Etsy explained that the brand new “creativity standards” require sellers to categorise the over 100 million items on the platform with clear labels indicating the extent of “human involvement” that went into the product. The recent labels might be present in the “Item Details” section of the outline.
For example, if a store owner sells vintage items, those items can be labeled “handpicked.” Craft and party supplies ought to be labeled “sourced.” The “handmade” label, then again, refers to physical products made by the vendor themselves or with tools like a 3D printer or Cricut machine.
The recent “Designed” label is probably going a response to the increasing presence of AI-generated items which have taken over the once handmade market. Etsy has considerable play lately for the acceptance of AI art, resulting from its impact on more traditional artists. AI tools are capable of mimic the variety of artists to create artwork. Despite ethical concerns, the service is embracing this technology.
As the corporate explains in its seller handbook, sellers can “use their original prompts combined with AI tools to create the artwork they sell on Etsy.” Sellers must label their items as “Designed by,” which tells buyers that what they're buying can have been designed using generative AI, a third-party production partner, or other digital tools.
“Eligible examples of this might include a fantasy scene based on an original request or input from a seller and created by an AI generator, or a custom portrait of a buyer's pet created using AI tools,” the corporate added. “Sellers must disclose of their listing description whether an item was created using AI.”
While sellers are allowed to design items using AI tools, which Etsy calls “Seller-Initiated AI Creations,” Etsy has added a brand new rule that prohibits them from selling AI prompts. You've probably seen these kinds of listings flooding the platform, similar to “10,000 Midjourney Prompts,” “Ultimate ChatGPT Prompts Pack,” and so forth. A spokesperson told TechCrunch that these listings can be flagged and faraway from Etsy starting today.
During the Conference call on first quarter resultsCEO Josh Silverman reassured investors and sellers about Etsy's commitment to “keeping commerce human,” he said. Silverman said Etsy has removed 4 times as many listings that violate Handmade policies in comparison with last 12 months.
