Last reviewed by Robert Prime — May 2026
Quick Answer: KDP's AI-content scan flagged your manuscript as potentially generated by AI without disclosure. Disclose any AI-generated content (including AI-written sections, AI-translated text, AI-generated images, or AI-edited prose) in the KDP dashboard's AI Content section. Failure to disclose can result in account suspension.
Full reasoning, why-it-happens, and the exact fix below.
UK note: UK-specific considerations apply — ISBN purchases go through Nielsen (not Bowker), VAT rules differ from the US (print books are zero-rated; ebooks carry 20% VAT), and GDPR applies to any email/customer data. See our UK self-publishing guides for specifics.
We see this come through our formatting queue at publishing.co.uk regularly, so the patterns and fixes here are based on what actually works at upload.
What this error means
KDP's content quality team uses pattern matching plus human review to identify AI-generated content. Books that show signs of AI authorship without being disclosed are rejected with "Your book contains AI-generated content that has not been disclosed" or, more vaguely, "Your manuscript does not meet our content quality guidelines."
KDP's policy is to require disclosure for AI-generated content, not AI-assisted editing. Three categories:
- AI-generated: AI created the text/image and you used it largely as-is. Must be disclosed.
- AI-assisted: AI helped you draft, edit, polish, translate. Disclosure not required but recommended.
- AI-only post-processing (grammar checks, spell check, basic editing tools): no disclosure required.
The disclosure happens during upload in a dedicated AI Content section. It's invisible to readers — it goes only to KDP's content quality team.
📎 Source: KDP's authoritative documentation on this rule is at KDP's AI-content disclosure policy.
Why it happens
Author used ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or similar for substantial chapters and didn't tick the disclosure.
Cover or interior illustrations generated by Midjourney, DALL-E, or Stable Diffusion without disclosure.
Translation done by Google Translate, DeepL, or AI without disclosure as AI-generated translation.
Books that read like AI even when human-written — repetitive sentence structures, generic phrasing, "in this article we will explore" intros, vague conclusions. KDP's checker flags these for human review.
Series of similar books published quickly that pattern-match against known AI-spam operators.
Generic non-fiction titles in categories KDP has identified as AI-spam-prone (low-content books, "make money online" guides, simple how-tos).
The fix
Step 1: Be honest with yourself. Did AI write substantial portions of this book? If yes, you need to disclose. If you used AI only for editing or grammar, no disclosure needed.
Step 2: Log into KDP dashboard → find the rejected book → click the upload step → scroll to "AI Content" section.
Step 3: Answer each question:
- "Did you use AI to generate any of the text content?" Yes / No
- "Did you use AI to generate any images?" Yes / No
- "Did you use AI for translation?" Yes / No
Step 4: If yes to any, KDP asks for a follow-up: which sections / images / chapters were AI-generated, and roughly what percentage. Be specific but you don't need exact numbers.
Step 5: If the rejection is for content quality (vague, generic, low-value content), the fix is harder. KDP wants:
- Original voice and perspective
- Verified facts and citations where relevant
- Coherent structure
- Real value to readers
Read your book critically. If it reads as generic, rewrite the weakest chapters in your own voice, add personal examples, cite real sources.
Step 6: If you're an indie publisher who used AI in a limited way (cover illustration only, or AI-translated chapters), disclose those specifically and re-upload.
Step 7: Add a "Note from the Author" section if you used AI assistance — many readers appreciate the transparency. Wording: "Cover illustration generated with AI-assisted tools. Text written by [author name]."
Step 8: For repeat rejections, contact KDP support and ask specifically what triggered the flag. Sometimes it's pattern-matching against unrelated books in your account — they can clarify.
Step 9: Re-upload. KDP re-reviews.
How to pre-flight it
Our free KDP Readiness Score includes a content-quality screen — repetitive phrasing detection, AI-likely-pattern flags, and a disclosure checklist. Plus 30+ other KDP rules including placeholder detection, metadata consistency, and image checks.
Related errors
- KDP error: Lorem ipsum or placeholder text detected
- KDP error: metadata title mismatch
- KDP error: blank chapter
FAQ
Will disclosing AI content hurt my sales? The disclosure is internal to KDP — it's not shown on your book's product page or to customers. Sales aren't directly affected.
Does grammar-checking with Grammarly count as AI use? No — grammar tools, spell check, and editing tools don't require disclosure. The rule is about AI generating text from prompts.
What if I used AI for outlining only, then wrote the book myself? KDP's threshold is fuzzy. Strictly speaking, if the words in the book are yours, no disclosure required. If AI generated paragraphs that you lightly edited, disclose.
Can I be banned for not disclosing? Yes — repeated undisclosed AI content can result in account termination. Better to disclose accurately than risk losing your whole catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to disclose AI-assisted editing (Grammarly, ProWritingAid)?
Amazon's current policy distinguishes 'AI-generated' (significant AI contribution) from 'AI-assisted' (edits and suggestions). Tools like Grammarly that suggest changes don't usually trigger the flag. Tools that write substantial sections of prose for you do — disclose those.
How do I check whether my manuscript might trip KDP's content-quality flag?
KDP flags books for low quality based on excessive typos, missing punctuation, broken formatting, or content that looks AI-generated without disclosure. Run a fresh proofread, check the content guidelines, and use the free KDP Readiness Score for structural checks.
Will publishing.co.uk proofread my manuscript as part of formatting?
Formatting and proofreading are separate services. Our formatting pass catches structural issues (broken links, missing chapters, typography errors), but we don't proofread sentence-level content. We can recommend an editor for that — the work tends to be £4-8 per 1,000 words for line editing.
What if my book is genuinely AI-assisted — do I have to disclose?
KDP requires disclosure of AI-generated content as of late 2023. AI-assisted (you wrote it; AI helped polish) is generally not required to be disclosed. AI-generated (the LLM wrote the content) does need disclosure during the upload form. The line is genuinely fuzzy; err toward disclosure if the work is heavily AI-driven.
Related KDP error fixes
If you got the rejection above, you may also want to check these related issues — they tend to cluster:
Full list: KDP formatting errors hub · KDP rejection fixes hub · KDP rejected my book
About this guide
This page is part of a series of UK-focused KDP rejection guides at publishing.co.uk, each documenting a specific reason KDP can reject a print or Kindle file and the exact fix. Written by Robert Prime — founder of publishing.co.uk, co-runs the LoveReading network, and has overseen 500+ KDP submissions through formatting work in this category (content).
If you'd rather have someone else handle this and the other 35 issues KDP checks for, our formatting service is from £69 with a 3-day turnaround and a 100% KDP-acceptance guarantee.
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