Answer a few questions about your podcast episode to find out if it needs an AI disclosure label.
A clear, actionable set of rules for podcasters.
Question 1 of 5
Is the episode narrated, hosted, or performed by an AI voice that is not yours?
A synthetic voice (not a clone of your own) delivers the core content of the episode.
Examples
A text-to-speech voice narrates the episode
A NotebookLM-style AI conversation between synthetic hosts
Someone else's cloned voice (with or without permission)
An AI voice narrates most of the episode
Question 2 of 5
Did you clone your own voice to narrate this episode?
You used AI to generate audio in your own voice, rather than recording it yourself.
Examples
You trained a voice model on your own recordings
You used a voice cloning service to produce the episode in your voice
Your cloned voice delivers the full episode or significant portions
Question 3 of 5
Did you write the script and create the content yourself?
The ideas, the research, the words, and the editorial judgment are yours. AI only generated the audio from your content.
This means yes
You wrote the full script, AI just voiced it
You researched and structured the content, AI delivered your words
The perspective, expertise, and personality are 100% yours
This means no
AI generated the script (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) and your cloned voice read it
AI wrote most of the content, you only edited lightly
Question 4 of 5
Does an AI voice deliver content your listeners engage with as speech?
Not the main host, but AI speaks in content-delivering segments. The key: is AI producing speech that listeners consume as content, or is it a short production element?
This means yes
AI reads listener questions between human discussion segments
AI narrates a section or chapter of the episode
AI voice delivers interview-style content
This means no
A short AI-voiced intro or outro bumper (production element)
An AI voice saying "This episode is brought to you by..." (a tag, not content)
Question 5 of 5
Did you use AI for production elements or behind-the-scenes work?
AI helped with production or your workflow, but a human is doing the creative work your listeners came for.
AI-generated show notes, transcripts, titles, chapters
Yes, disclose it
AI is the voice delivering the substance of your episode. Label this episode with AI disclosure.
Apple Podcasts requires disclosure when AI generates "a material portion of the podcast's audio." When a synthetic voice (not your own) performs the narration, hosting, or conversation, AI is doing the creative work your listeners came for. YouTube, Meta, Spotify, and the EU AI Act (effective August 2026) all agree.
Yes, disclose it
AI wrote the content AND generated the audio. Even though it's your voice, AI is doing the creative work at every level. Label this episode with AI disclosure.
The substance test asks: is AI doing the creative work your listeners came for? When AI wrote the script and generated the voice, the ideas, the words, and the performance are all synthetic. Your voice is recognizable, but the creative substance is AI's. This is functionally the same as a fully AI-generated episode.
Yes, disclose it
An AI voice is delivering content your listeners engage with as speech. That's substance, not production. Label this episode with AI disclosure.
Even though AI isn't the main host, it's performing a substantive creative role: speaking words that listeners consume as content. This goes beyond production support (like a jingle or sound effect) into the territory of AI as performer. Apple's "material portion" standard covers this case.
No disclosure needed
You wrote the script. It's your voice. It's your ideas. The creative work your listeners came for is 100% yours. AI is just the delivery method.
The substance test asks: is AI doing the creative work your listeners came for? In this case, no. Your perspective, your expertise, your editorial judgment, and your personality are all human. AI generated the audio, but the creative substance is entirely yours. This is closer to choosing a production method (like dictating vs. typing) than to delegating creative work. That said, a note in your show notes ("This episode was produced using my cloned voice") is a nice transparency touch.
No disclosure needed
AI is a production tool, not the performer. A human is doing the creative work your listeners came for.
Apple Podcasts requires disclosure when AI generates "a material portion of the podcast's audio." Production elements like intro jingles, music beds, sound effects, and audio cleanup are not the substance of the episode. YouTube, Meta, and the EU AI Act all explicitly exempt production assistance from disclosure requirements.
No disclosure needed
Based on your answers, AI was not involved in producing this episode. No disclosure is needed.
The Substance Test
Is AI doing the creative work your listeners came for?
Quick Reference
AI as performer = disclose. AI as tool = don't disclose.