Rumor? Fact? Or wishful thinking? A little bit of each appears to be the answer with regard to the latest chatter surrounding AI and how Amazon ($AMZN ( ▼ 1.78% )) will empower creators on their Merch and KDP platforms.
Many creators have been clamoring for such updates to their dashboard. But with Amazon’s hot-and-cold attitude toward AI, it’s not clear how soon such “inevitable” tools will land in the creator ecosystem.
AI and Amazon
Artificial intelligence is no longer a novelty on the edges of ecommerce. It’s now actively shaping the platforms where we sell, advertise, and discover products.
From listing creation to ad campaigns, Amazon has already begun laying ground to thoroughly weave AI into its retail ecosystem. But here’s the important distinction: the very tools that give third-party sellers and advertisers an edge aren’t available to KDP publishers or Merch on Demand creators.
That leaves independent book publishers and POD sellers at a crossroads.
Rather than waiting for Amazon to eventually integrate AI directly into the dashboards we use every day, smart creators are recognizing this gap as an opportunity and leverage AI independently for research, ideation, messaging, composition and design.
By the admission of Amazon’s ex-chief Jeff Bezos, those who do will move faster, publish smarter, and capture opportunities while others remain stuck in the old way of working.
Where Amazon is already using AI
Amazon has already rolled out AI across several areas of its retail and advertising ecosystem:
Automated listing generation: In 2023, Amazon introduced tools that allow sellers to generate titles, bullet points, and descriptions from a few words, an image, or a URL.
Listing optimization: The “Enhance My Listing” feature helps refine existing product detail pages for stronger visibility.
Amazon Ads Creative Studio: Advertisers can now use generative AI to create ad copy, campaign visuals, and even short videos.
Seller Assistant: Amazon has begun deploying an AI assistant in Seller Central to help with daily tasks and strategy recommendations.
These tools strengthen Amazon’s core marketplace. For traditional retail sellers, AI is already embedded into the workflow.
Where Amazon isn’t (yet)
By contrast, KDP and Merch on Demand have no built-in AI tools for creators. There are no ideation generators, design assistants, or market research features integrated into these dashboards.
Industry speculation suggests that Amazon may eventually overhaul these platforms with AI integrations, but current reports indicate such changes could still be years away. Nothing official has been announced.
Why this matters
That delay creates an opening for individual creators. Most POD and KDP publishers still rely on outdated methods: manual niche research, trial-and-error design, and slow creative processes. The small group of sellers who embrace AI now will:
Identify profitable trends faster than the competition.
Turn cultural moments, celebrities, and headlines into publishable products quickly.
Test messaging, titles, and hooks more efficiently.
Produce polished, scalable designs and manuscripts with less cost and time.
These advantages aren’t small — they’re decisive. Sellers who adopt AI today will steadily build momentum while others wait for Amazon to eventually catch up.
The Bezos perspective
Jeff Bezos himself has pointed to AI as central to the future of commerce:
“We’re at the beginning of a golden age of AI. Recent advancements have already led to invention that previously lived in the realm of science fiction — and we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible.”
That statement frames the opportunity clearly. Amazon will continue to deepen its use of AI. But until they do, creators are on their own to learn and leverage AI for themselves.
The Clock is Ticking
Love it or hate it, AI is no longer optional. Waiting for Amazon to roll out AI for POD or KDP could mean sitting on the sidelines for years while others move ahead. By the time those tools appear, early adopters will already control the niches and audiences that matter most.
For creators, the smartest move right now is clear: learn AI, use AI, and embrace AI. Those who adapt quickly will build sustainable businesses. Those who don’t will struggle to compete in the next wave of ecommerce.
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