contains-synthetic-performer
This is the metadata keyword Amazon asks sellers to use. If a listing image or video contains a photorealistic person generated entirely by AI, the keyword has to be embedded in the file's XMP metadata before it is uploaded to Seller Central. Amazon reads it and adds a disclosure on the detail page telling shoppers the image includes AI-generated people.
Which field it goes in
The XMP dc:subject field. That is the standard IPTC/XMP subject-and-keywords field — in most image tools it simply shows up as “Keywords” or “Tags”.
Adding it to a single file (three free options)
Windows File Explorer
Right-click the image → Properties → Details → type contains-synthetic-performer into Tags → Apply.
macOS Preview
Open the image → Tools → Show Inspector → Keywords tab → click + → type the keyword → Enter.
exiftool
exiftool -XMP-dc:Subject+=contains-synthetic-performer yourfile.jpgUse += rather than = so the keyword is appended to the existing list instead of replacing it.
What about a few thousand files?
All three methods above handle one file at a time. For a whole catalogue, drop the folder into the workspace: it tags everything in one pass and exports a ZIP. Writing happens in your own browser, so nothing is uploaded and there is no file-count limit.
Open the workspace →Verify after tagging. Retouching software, compression tools, asset managers and agency portals can drop embedded metadata when exporting — a tag you wrote is not necessarily a tag that survives to upload time. Drop the file into the checker to be sure.
What needs the tag, and what does not
| Content | Tag needed? |
|---|---|
| Photorealistic people generated entirely by AI (AI models, AI lifestyle figures) | Yes |
| AI-generated photorealistic bystanders in the background | Yes |
| Photos of real people, even when retouched or background-swapped with AI | No |
| Cartoons, illustrations and other clearly non-photorealistic figures | No |
| Characters from film, television or games | No |
| Product-only images with no people in frame | No |
Common questions
Do I have to go back and tag images that are already live?
In its seller forum reply, Amazon stated that compliance is mandatory going forward for new uploads; for older images it is a best-practice recommendation to update them while editing, with no retroactive deadline set. Worth knowing: editing the local file does not change a live listing — to get a tag onto an existing image you have to re-upload it.
Does this cover A+ content and product video?
Yes — listing images, images and video inside A+ content, and product video are all in scope. That said, Amazon has so far only specified the field for images; which metadata field video should use has not been published, which is why video handling here is marked experimental.
Will the disclosure hurt conversion?
Research suggests AI-labelled content takes a hit on consumer trust and purchase intent. If that matters a lot for your category, the more fundamental fix is a creative one — use AI for backgrounds and scenes and keep human figures real, so the requirement never triggers.