---
title: "AI-Generated vs AI-Assisted Content on KDP"
description: "KDP's definitions of AI-generated and AI-assisted content, which one you must disclose, where heavy editing leaves you, and what copyright law says."
url: "https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/ai-generated-vs-ai-assisted"
updated: "2026-10-20"
---

# AI-generated vs AI-assisted

**Definition.** AI-generated and AI-assisted are KDP's two labels for AI use in a book. Content is AI-generated if an AI tool created the actual text, images or translations, even after substantial edits; it is AI-assisted if you created it and used AI to edit, refine, error-check or brainstorm. KDP requires disclosure of AI-generated content only.

Sources checked October 20, 2026.

## How it works

KDP asks about AI-generated content when you publish a new book and when you edit and republish one, and its definition of AI-generated images covers the cover and interior artwork. AI-assisted work needs no disclosure. Either way, you are responsible for making sure the content meets KDP's guidelines, including intellectual property rights. Copyright is a separate question: the US Copyright Office concluded in 2025 that AI output is protected only where a human author has determined sufficient expressive elements, and that prompts alone aren't enough.

## An example

You outline a book yourself, then ask an AI tool to write each chapter from your outline, and rewrite every chapter heavily. Under KDP's definition the text is AI-generated, because the tool created it. If instead you wrote the chapters and used AI to tighten sentences and catch errors, the book is AI-assisted, and there is nothing to disclose.

## Common mistakes

Believing heavy editing turns generated text into assisted text: KDP's definition says it stays AI-generated. Forgetting the cover, when an AI-made cover image is AI-generated content too. And assuming a disclosed AI book is fully protected by copyright: the Copyright Office protects human authorship, such as creative arrangement or modification, not the machine-made parts.

## Questions

**If I edit AI text heavily, is it still AI-generated?** Yes, by KDP's definition. If an AI tool created the actual content, it is AI-generated even if you applied substantial edits afterwards.

**Do I need to tell KDP I used AI for proofreading?** No. Using AI to edit, refine or error-check content you created is AI-assisted, and KDP says it is not necessary to inform it of that.

## Sources

- [KDP: Content Guidelines](https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200672390): KDP's definitions of AI-generated and AI-assisted content, the disclosure requirement, images including covers, and the author's responsibility.
- [US Copyright Office: Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, Part 2 (NewsNet)](https://www.copyright.gov/newsnet/2025/1060.html): The Copyright Office's conclusion that AI outputs are protected only where a human determined sufficient expressive elements, not by prompts alone.

## Related terms

- [KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/kdp.md)
- [Public domain](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/public-domain.md)
- [Front matter](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary/front-matter.md)

## Read next

- [Publish an AI-assisted book on Amazon KDP](https://www.superebook.ai/guides/publish-ai-assisted-book-on-amazon-kdp.md)
- [Can you sell AI-generated ebooks?](https://www.superebook.ai/guides/can-you-sell-ai-generated-ebooks.md)
- [Can Amazon detect AI writing?](https://www.superebook.ai/blog/can-amazon-detect-ai-writing.md)
- [All glossary terms](https://www.superebook.ai/glossary.md)