Crowdfunding AI on Kickstarter? New Rules You Need To Know

Roy Morejon
2 min readAug 1, 2023

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Kickstarter has introduced a new AI policy, which will take effect on August 29. The policy ensures transparency, proper credit, and consent in projects that incorporate or build AI.

The policy does not ban the use of AI in Kickstarter projects, but it requires creators to be transparent and specific about how they use AI in their projects. This includes disclosing relevant details on their project page, such as how they plan to use AI content, which project elements will be original work, and which will be created using AI outputs.

Projects developing AI technology must also disclose information about any databases and data they intend to use, and how these sources handle consent and credit for the data they utilize.

Key Takeaways for Creators:

1. Transparency Requirement: Creators must be transparent and specific about how they use AI in their projects. This includes disclosing how they plan to use AI content and which elements of their project will be original work versus created using AI outputs.

2. Credit and Consent: The policy requires that any project funded through Kickstarter properly credits and obtains permission for any artist’s work it references.

3. Data Usage Disclosure: Projects developing AI technology, tools, or software must disclose information about any databases and data the creator intends to use, and how these sources handle consent and credit for the data they utilize.

4. Non-Disclosure Consequences: If any use of AI is not disclosed properly during the submission process, the project may be suspended. Attempts to skirt the guidelines or intentionally misrepresent a project will result in restrictions from submitting a Kickstarter project in the future.

5. Policy Enforcement: The AI policy will be enforced starting August 29 for any projects submitted on that date and after. The policy will not be retroactively enforced for projects submitted before this date.

You can read more about the announcement here.

If you have questions about crowdfunding, AI, or Kickstarter marketing, please send me a note.

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Roy Morejon

I help entrepreneurs, inventors, & startups launch & market products from idea to product-market-fit. Over $1B in sales using Crowdfunding on Kickstarter