Can we use AI Tools at Amazon KDP?
Artificial Intelligence and Self-Publication (Post #12 POD)
Can you use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create and/or list your low-content book at Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)? In this post we will let Amazon KDP itself answer this question. But first, why should we talk about AI in this series? Because Amazon included a question about it during the KDP listing and submission process. Let me show you where.
Amazon KDP asks about AI during KDP Submission
In our last post, I gave you an overview on how to list your first KDP low content book where I simplified the process using KDP’s three tabs. In the second tab, after you submit the book cover, Amazon asks: “Did you use AI tools in creating texts, images, and/or translations in your book?” It notes that Amazon is “collecting information about the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in creating content.” See the picture below for more details.
I am not here to convince you to use AI. I just want you to be aware of this new question in the listing process. Personally, I do not know what Amazon will do with this data so I do not use AI to generate anything for KDP self-publication. But I do like using AI as my virtual assistant or productivity tool. Let me explain using Amazon’s Content Guidelines about AI.
AI Generated vs AI Assisted
Amazon wrote in its content guidelines that, “we REQUIRE [emphasis added] you to inform us of AI-generated content (text, images, or translations) when you publish a new book or make edits to and republish an existing book through KDP. AI-generated images include cover and interior images and artwork.” Generative AI is supposed to create new content after being given a prompt. However, it might not be truly “new” as New York Times contends when it sued ChatGPT. It is a new arena and Amazon wants to know if your content is AI generated.
On the other hand, Amazon does not require you to inform them if you used AI to assist you. The defined AI-assisted as follows: “If you created the content yourself, and used AI-based tools to edit, refine, error-check, or otherwise improve that content (whether text or images), then it is considered ‘AI-assisted’ and not ‘AI-generated.’ ” The key phrase is “you created the content yourself.” They added that if you used AI as a brainstorming tool, that is considered “AI-Assisted” as well.
Amazon and AI
Amazon is not against Artificial Intelligence. One of its sector, Amazon Web Services (AWS) recommends Generative AI to different businesses and offers Amazon Bedrock which they say is “the easiest way to build and scale generative AI applications with foundation models.” What I do know is that Amazon is great in collecting data and makes data-driven decisions.
AI-Assisted Tools for KDP
So what tools can you use to assist you in making your original content better? Well, I ask Bard, Google’s “conversational AI tool” which you can “collaborate with” in order to “brainstorm ideas, spark creativity, and accelerate productivity.” Below is what I asked Bard and its answer.
Some of the tools Bard mentioned may not be considered as AI tools by others. For instance, I used Grammarly and ProWritingAid before to edit my drafts but I never saw it as an AI tool. Maybe they are. Or not. But they definitely shorten the editing process. In our next post, we will talk about how to start earning more passive income via Amazon KDP royalties.