Frequently Asked Questions

Creators and businesses apply for certification by selecting the tier that honestly reflects their process (Craft Assisted, Craft Verified, or Craft Pure). They submit information about how their work is made, which is reviewed through our verification process. Once approved, they receive the CraftPledge mark for their tier level and can display it on their products and marketing materials.

For the purposes of CraftPledge certification, “AI” refers to generative artificial intelligence systems — tools that can create text, images, code, music, or other content based on prompts or inputs. This includes large language models, image generators, code completion tools, and similar systems. Traditional software tools (calculators, spell-checkers, design software, compilers) are not considered AI in our framework.

Yes. Traditional spell-checkers, grammar tools, and basic autocorrect are not considered generative AI for the purposes of CraftPledge certification. These tools assist with mechanical accuracy but do not generate creative content. However, AI-powered writing assistants that suggest or rewrite entire sentences or paragraphs would be considered AI usage and would place your work in the Craft Assisted tier.

Craft Assisted: AI may have been used as a supporting tool, but a human led the process and takes responsibility for the output.

Craft Verified: No generative AI was used in creating the final product or service. It was conceived and created entirely by humans.

Craft Pure: No AI was used anywhere in the entire supply chain, from sourcing to delivery. This is the most rigorous standard.

Visit our Pledge page for full details on each tier.

We are currently in the early stages of building CraftPledge and are developing our pricing model. Our goal is to make certification accessible to independent creators, small businesses, and large organisations alike. Pricing details will be announced as we approach our public launch. Sign up to be notified when applications open.

Our verification process combines self-declaration with auditing and accountability measures. Creators provide detailed information about their production process, and we use a combination of documentation review, spot checks, and community reporting to ensure accuracy. The specifics vary by tier level — higher tiers require more rigorous documentation. We are also developing technological solutions to support the verification process.

Trust is the foundation of CraftPledge. If a certified creator or business is found to have misrepresented their use of AI, they face decertification and public removal from the CraftPledge directory. We take violations seriously because the entire value of the mark depends on its integrity. We also provide a process for creators to voluntarily update their tier if their process changes.

Absolutely not. CraftPledge is pro-transparency. We believe technology and AI have incredible potential to help humanity. What we oppose is the invisibility of AI usage — the inability of consumers to know whether what they’re buying was made by a human or generated by a machine. Our Craft Assisted tier explicitly recognises that AI can be a valuable tool when a human is in charge. We are not against AI; we are for honesty. In fact, we used AI tools to help build this very website — and we’re completely transparent about it. That’s kind of the whole point.

CraftPledge is currently in development. We are building our certification platform and verification processes. If you’re interested in being among the first to receive CraftPledge certification, we’d love to hear from you. Watch this space for updates on when applications open, or visit our For Creators page to learn more about what certification involves.