The short answer
Yes, you can use AI images on Amazon as long as they accurately show the product you sell. The main image still has to be a real product on pure white. Since July 2026, sellers have been reported to need a metadata tag on images and videos showing photorealistic AI-generated people. Confirm the current wording in Seller Central, because policies change.
Check your image against these rules for freeWhat Amazon allows
Amazon’s concern is whether an image matches the product, not which tool created it. The practical picture looks like this:
| Image type | AI use | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Main image | Edit a real photo: background, cleanup, framing | Must show the real product on pure white. A fully synthetic render risks suppression |
| Lifestyle images | Generally fine | Color, shape, size and included items must match the product |
| Infographics | Generally fine | Numbers and claims must be true |
| A+ Content | Generally fine | Same accuracy rules, plus A+ review |
| AI-generated people | Allowed with disclosure | Photorealistic synthetic people need the metadata tag |
The 2026 disclosure rule for AI-generated people
Seller reports and compliance guides describe a rule introduced in July 2026, following New York’s synthetic performer advertising law. Images and videos showing a photorealistic person generated entirely by AI should carry the keyword contains-synthetic-performer in their metadata before upload. Amazon then shows shoppers a disclosure.
Sources disagree on some details, such as enforcement dates, and we could not read the original notice without a seller login. Treat the following as a practical summary, and check Seller Central for the current text.
- Generally covered: a generated model in a lifestyle shot or A+ image, and AI presenters in product videos.
- Generally not covered: real people, including real photos retouched with AI; clearly illustrated or cartoon figures; images with no people.
- When unsure, the common advice is to add the tag.
How to add the tag
The keyword goes in the file’s XMP subject field and has to match exactly. Add it to the final export, because editing tools can strip metadata.
- On Windows: right-click the file, open Properties, then Details, and type the keyword into Tags.
- On macOS: open the file in Preview, open the Inspector, go to the Keywords tab and add the keyword.
- On the command line: exiftool -XMP-dc:Subject+=contains-synthetic-performer yourfile.jpg
- To verify, run exiftool -G1 yourfile.jpg and look for the keyword under XMP-dc Subject.
ShineSnap does not add this tag to exported files today. If a set includes photorealistic people, add the tag to those files before uploading, or plan those images without people.
The real risk: images that do not match the product
Whatever tool you use, the risk is the same. Returns and complaints follow when a product looks different from the photos, and AI can quietly change things you did not ask it to change. Compare each image with the real product before you upload:
- Color and finish, under neutral light.
- Shape, proportions, seams, buttons and ports.
- Logos and printed text, which AI tools often distort.
- Quantity and included accessories.
- Scale: a lifestyle scene should not make the product look bigger than it is.
Common questions
Does Amazon ban AI-generated product images?
No general ban has been published. The rule that matters is accuracy: images must show the product as it really is, and the main image must be a real product on pure white.
Do I need to disclose every AI image?
The reported 2026 tag applies to photorealistic AI-generated people, not to every AI-edited image. Product-only images and real people in retouched photos are generally outside it.
Can a white background be created with AI?
Yes. Replacing the background of a real product photo is a normal edit, as long as the product stays accurate and the result is pure white.
Sources
Platforms change their rules, so check the latest requirements in your seller account before you upload.