Google Photos Introduces AI Watermarking for Enhanced Transparency

Google Photos Will Now Watermark Images Edited by AI

If you look at a photo today, you likely won't know, at first glance, whether it's real or fake. Or whether it has been digitally altered in some way. Thankfully, companies involved with developing AI technologies aren't ignoring this problem... "Reimagined" Google Photos Will Have SynthID Attached From now on, any images edited using the Reimagine feature in Google Photos' Magic Editor will be watermarked using SynthID. While the watermark will not be visible to the naked eye, systems that need to know whether an image has been created or altered using AI will be able to detect it. According to Google itself in a post on The Keyword, SynthID "embeds an imperceptible, digital watermark directly into AI-generated images, audio, text or video." It has already been used to watermark images created entirely by AI, like those made by Imagen, but it's now being added to images merely edited by AI. We pitted Google's Magic Editor against iPhone's Clean Up to see which performed better. The Reimagine feature is part of Magic Editor, but only on Pixel 9 or later (including the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet). As you can see in the thread of images embedded below, Reimagine uses AI to add, remove, or change elements within a photo. Post by @chriswelch View on Threads Google was keen to point out a slight flaw in its plans though. Which is that some edits made using Reimagine may be too small for SynthID to detect, meaning that no watermark will be added. However, if an edit is that small as to not be noticeable by SynthID, ultimately, it should be too small for us humans to worry about. We All Need to Know What's Real and What's Not Real With multiple companies refining AI technologies, it's getting more and more difficult to determine what's real and what's fake. This goes for photos, videos, and even audio, all of which can be augmented or replicated by artificial intelligence. This inability to determine what's real and what's fake clearly needs combating. So it's good to see Google tackling this issue head on. And while some people may prefer a visible watermark, embedding a digital watermark seems like a good compromise. While the watermark will not be visible to the naked eye, you'll be able to see if an image has been digitally manipulated by artificial intelligence using Google's About this image tool. This will inform you whether a SynthID watermark is present, as well as reveal the image's metadata.

Google Photos Will Now Add AI Watermarks to Magic Editor Enhanced Images

The About this Image section will show if SynthID watermark is present Google Photos is getting a new functionality that will allow people to check whether an image was enhanced using artificial intelligence (AI) or not. Images edited using Reimagine in Magic Editor will be labelled using SynthID, a watermarking technology by the Mountain View-based tech giant. The label can be viewed within the "About this image" section of the image and can also be detected by specialised tools. The move is likely aimed at reducing the instances of potential deepfakes that can be generated using Google's AI image editing tool. In a blog post, the tech giant announced that Google Photos will now automatically add AI Watermark to Images enhanced using Magic Editor. This will primarily apply to the Reimagine tool that adds new elements to an image using the Imagen 3 AI model. However, other usage of Magic Editor will also result in the addition of the watermark. Google has developed a new technology called SynthID, which will add an invisible and imperceptible tag to the image. While the tag can be seen in the About this Image menu, it can also be detected via specialised detection tools. This watermark cannot be removed by cropping, adding filters, or copying the image as the information is added to the pixels of the image. Notably, SynthID was developed by Google DeepMind and can be added to AI-generated text, images, audio, and videos. In each case, the watermark is not added superficially but within the structure of the media. For instance, in videos, it is added to each frame of the video. The move behind adding watermarks to AI images is likely to reduce the instances of people falling for deepfakes. Deepfakes are any type of realistic media that has been digitally generated using AI or enhanced using other digital tools with the intention to spread misinformation or mislead people. Notably, Google has clarified that if the edits made by Reimagine are too small, SynthID might not be added to the image. This will apply to scenarios such as a user changing the colour of a small flower in the background. Users can check whether the AI watermark has been added by opening the metadata.

Google is adding digital watermarks to images edited with Magic Editor AI | TechCrunch

Google on Thursday announced that effective this week, it will begin adding a digital watermark to images in Photos that are edited with generative AI. The watermark applies specifically to images that are altered using the Reimagine feature found in Magic Editor on Pixel 9 devices. Announced in 2024, Reimagine utilizes generative AI to alter aspects of a digital photo. Like other Magic Editor features, it's designed for touching up images shot on-device. That use of AI has opened Reimagine up to far more dramatic image edits, blurring the line between digital photos and fully AI-generated shots. As generative AI images grow increasingly lifelike, digital advocates have called for a universal method to help the public determine whether or not a photo was created out of whole cloth. Digital watermarking is often floated as a potential solution as it can be added to a file without directly altering the image itself. Google will be using SynthID to mark relevant images. Created by Google's DeepMind division, the feature "embeds a digital watermark directly into AI-generated content, without compromising the original content." SynthID can also be used to scan images for potential watermarks. The feature, which is currently in beta, also works with AI-generated text and video files. Users can also click into 'About this Image' to locate digital watermarks within a photo's metadata. Google adds that certain edits may not trigger the use of SynthID. "In some cases, edits made using Reimagine may be too small for SynthID to label and detect -- like if you change the color of a small flower in the background of an image," it writes. The feature's deployment is part of a larger effort to make AI editing more transparent within Google Photos. The company cites its published AI principles as the guiding light for such decision-making.

Google Photos adds SynthID to identify AI-edited images in Magic Editor

Google has announced that Google Photos will begin using SynthID to mark images edited with generative AI through the Reimagine feature in Magic Editor. SynthID is a digital watermarking technology that embeds an imperceptible identifier into AI-generated content, including images, audio, text, and video. According to Google, this watermark does not affect image or video quality and remains detectable even after cropping, color adjustments, or compression. Vertex AI customers are already using this watermarking technology in Imagen 3 and Imagen 2, Google's text-to-image models that generate high-quality visuals in various artistic styles. SynthID can detect these watermarks in both images and video frames. Last year, Google extended this technology to images created with ImageFX and videos generated using Veo, its AI video-generation model. Users can verify whether an image -- or a part of it -- was AI-generated using the "About this image" feature, available in Google Search and Chrome. While SynthID is designed to be highly effective, Google notes that minor modifications -- such as changing the color of a small element -- may go undetected. The tool provides deeper insights into AI-generated content, including: This feature supports 40 languages and is available in Circle to Search for select Android devices and Google Lens within the Google app for Android and iOS. The integration of SynthID with Reimagine in Magic Editor in Google Photos begins this week. Announcing the availability, Google posted:

Google Photos is putting a stamp on all the images you've 'reimagined'

Summary DeepMind's SynthID technology embeds imperceptible watermarks directly into AI-generated images, detectable by specialized AI algorithms. Google Photos will soon use SynthID to watermark images edited with AI, starting with those altered using the "Reimagine" feature. This watermarking initiative aims to increase transparency around AI-generated content and help users identify images that have been manipulated. In the age of AI, transparency is of the utmost importance. In a bid to help users understand why its AI model said what it said, complete with its rationale and thought process, Google unveiled a new Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model yesterday. The in-testing model, which Google says is best used for multistep reasoning, breaks down the answers it outputs and explains how and why it came to that conclusion, and what steps it followed. In a similar vein, the tech giant's AI research subsidiary, DeepMind, is attempting to offer transparency surrounding AI-generated content with tools like SynthID. Related DeepMind takes aim at AI deception with SynthID watermark technology Is this the deepfake killer? Posts For those unaware, DeepMind, led by Demis Hassabis, unveiled its SynthID watermarking tool back in August 2023. The technology essentially works by embedding a watermark directly within an AI-generated image's pixels. To the human eye, the watermark is imperceptible, but it can easily be detected by specialized AI identification algorithms. Up until now, SynthID for images has been available via Vertex AI for text-to-image models like Imagen 3 and Imagen 2, alongside image outputs on ImageFX. Now, the tool will begin watermarking images for a much bigger audience. The tech giant announced that Google Photos will soon begin using SynthID to watermark images edited specifically with a Magic Editor tool. Know if a photo has been altered Related Google Photos may soon flag AI-generated images Thanks to a new AI info label in metadata Posts 1 For what it's worth, Google already does this to an extent. Photos that have been edited using tools like Magic Editor, Magic Eraser and Zoom Enhance currently include AI markers in the image's metadata and information screen. Starting this week, Google Photos will begin digitally watermarking images edited using Reimagine, a tool that can significantly alter an image's contents. The tool, which was introduced alongside the Pixel 9 series, essentially allows you to 'reimagine' photos with AI. The tool lets you add or remove elements from a photo, move things around, apply contextual or special effect presets, like Sky or Golden hour, and more. The feature is part of the Magic Editor suite of tools. Photos altered using Reimagine will carry a marker in the 'About this image' section. Related Google Photos is reimagining Magic Editor controls to make more sense Goodbye, 'Reimagine as' -- hello 'Insert' and 'Replace with' Posts 1

Google's Magic Editor will watermark its AI-tweaked photos

SynthID will create imperceptible digital watermarks on images made using the Reimagine feature. Spotting AI's work can be increasingly difficult as its capabilities and subtleties continue to improve. This continued shift makes labeling AI generated work all the more critical -- something that is being done in bits and pieces. The latest development to do so comes from Google, which will now use SynthID technology to mark mages edited using Reimagine in Magic Editor. Google DeepMind launched SynthID in 2023, a technology that allows for imperceptible digital watermarks within any content created with generative AI. The company has previously used it in AI-powered programs such as Lyria, Imagen and Gemini. Now, SynthID will be making its literal mark on Magic Editor. The tool allows users to reimagine their photos by moving, erasing or adding special effects to different aspects of the image. The Reimagine feature is available for anyone 18 or older and on the Pixel 9 or later. Users who click Reimagine can enter a prompt to change bits of the image. Google recommends entering specific, simple phrases, such as "autumn leaves," and then explore potential options before picking one. The only difference is now that image will have a watermark from SynthID. It's available for anyone to see by clicking "About this image."

Google Photos will add a hidden watermark to your AI-edited images

Google's bet on AI is no secret, and it becomes evident the moment you launch any of its software products. The Google Photos app has been one of the earliest recipients of all this AI love. Now, it's time for some transparency. Remember Magic Editor, your gateway to AI-powered editing in the Google Photos app? Moving forward, images that have received an AI makeover using the Reimagine tool in Magic Editor will get an invisible watermark. Recommended Videos Reimagine lets you make edits using natural language commands. All you have to do is select the elements you want to play with, and then describe the desired changes as a sentence. It can change the background, remove certain items, and add new elements, among other tricks. You won't see the watermark though, as that happens at the Pixel level in AI-edited photos. Google is using the SynthID digital watermarking tool to label photos that have had an artistic lift from its AI. Please enable Javascript to view this content It may not always be accurate, especially when dealing with subtle changes. "In some cases, edits made using Reimagine may be too small for SynthID to label and detect -- like if you change the color of a small flower in the background of an image," says the company. SynthID was developed by Google DeepMind as a digital watermarking tool for AI-generated visual media. It can not be perceived by the human eye, but machines and online systems can flag it, including Google Search. When the watermark is added to a picture, it doesn't affect its quality. Even if you crop the AI-generated picture, change the color profile, add filters, or compress it, SynthID will retain the AI signature. Aside from images created by Google's Imagen model, SynthID has also been baked at the heart of clips generated by the Veo video generation model. The role of AI editing in an image can also be confirmed by checking out the "About this image" data. You can access this section for online images using Chrome browser and within Google Image Search. Aside from giving information such as the date when an image was first indexed by Google Search and where it first popped up online, it will also provide details about its AI origins. The "About this image" data can also be accessed using the Circle to Search feature on smartphones and via Google Lens in the Google mobile app for Android and iOS platforms. Whether you get copyright protection for such images depends on the extent of AI used. Google's approach is different from standards such as C2PA, which are also gaining traction and employ cryptography methods to modify the image metadata. Notably, Google is also a committee member of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), alongside Amazon, Meta, OpenAI, and Microsoft.

Google: Photos Edited with Magic Editor to Feature Digital Watermarks - Phandroid

While Google's AI-powered Magic Editor feature is no doubt impressive, there's no doubt that any AI-based editing software still runs the risk of being used for more less-than-noble reasons, especially given how AI-related scams and misinformation are prevalent nowadays. With that in mind, Google recently announced that it's implementing a digital watermark system using SynthID's technology. For those unfamiliar, SynthID is a means of embedding digital watermarks within AI-generated audio, text and even video, which will be used to mark photos edited using Magic Editor's "Reimagine" function. It's actually already used in AI-generated images created via Google's Imagen AI model, allowing users to distinguish AI-made content. READ: Google Finally Adds a Basic Feature to its Photos App Google does clarify that there might be some cases where SynthID might have trouble detecting AI edits, especially if they're small - for example, if you change the colour of a rose petal in the background of a photo, the system might not be able to identify and label it as an AI-edited image. Google adds that it will continue working with user feedback and transparency regarding AI edits made in Google Photos.

Google to Digitally Watermark AI-Adjusted Images in Magic Editor

Google is adding new digital watermarks to photos that have been edited using the company's Magic Editor. This generative AI feature debuted with the Google Pixel 8 series and is included in Google's other recent Pixel smartphones. Magic Editor enables photographers to tap on subjects or objects in their photos to move (or remove) them and uses AI to make wholesale changes to the scene, including adjusting the background and lighting conditions. There are notable concerns about misinformation using generative AI technologies, which Google partially addressed by implementing SynthID digital watermarking on images created entirely by the company's AI. However, this SynthID digital watermark now applies to images edited using Magic Editor's "Reimagine" feature, at least in most cases. Google notes that in some cases, users' edits with Reimagine "may be too small for SynthID to label and detect." Google offers an example of someone changing the color of a small flower in the background of a shot as one that may evade detection. However, generally speaking, the company believes its SynthID changes will ensure that people can better identify AI-generated content "quickly and easily." SynthID has been in development since 2023 and embeds a digital watermark directly into the pixels of an image. While this is not visible to people, it is easily detected by compatible software and platforms, including Google Image search. The move also addresses some serious concerns about Google's lack of AI transparency. When the Pixel 9 Pro launched, PetaPixel reported that there was no watermark or information in an image's "info" tab about whether it had been edited using the company's generative AI. The potential problems are obvious, including quickly creating and spreading disinformation. "Images made from scratch using Gemini's image generator use a tagging system called SynthID which tags them as not real, but images altered using generative AI in the Pixel 9's Magic Editor do not. It's a frankly shocking, woeful oversight," wrote PetaPixel's Jaron Schneider last August. Now, images edited using Magic Editor will (usually) have SynthID digital watermarking and information about AI editing will be included in an image's information. However, there remain concerns about easily identifying AI-edited content on the web. A digital watermark like this requires that someone consume content within a compatible ecosystem, which is not always the case. Identifying AI-altered content requires a multi-faceted approach, and while Google has improved one of those facets today, there are still gaps left to close.

Google Photos Adds Digital Watermark for Your Fake, AI-Generated...

We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info. Big fans of using AI to generate fake realities, Google has some news for you. The Reimagine tool in Magic Editor will now embed an "imperceptible, digital watermark" directly into your images through Google Photos, so that we all know what you've done. Google is using SynthID to do this, as it helps everyone "quickly and easily" identify AI-generated content. While some image edits with AI may not be caught by SynthID because they are so minor, folks turning a dark sky into a sunny day and removing an entire crowd are about to have their unrealities exposed. The Reimagine tool in Google Photos is available on the Pixel 9 series. It allows you to use Magic Editor and AI to reimagine a photo by describing an edit to it with text. That text can then transform an imagine into something completely different than was originally captured. Like, I just edited a picture of my cat sitting in a chair to him now living his best life next to an Irish castle with the sun rising behind him. What a legend. This isn't the first move that Google has made to note when an image has been messed with using AI. They announced back in October that they would start adding an "Edited with Google AI" data point to the metadata of images in Google Photos.

Pixel 9 'Reimagine' images adding AI watermark

Edits generated by the Pixel 9's Reimagine feature inside the Google Photos Magic Editor will now be watermarked with SynthID. SynthID (from Google DeepMind) adds a digital watermark to AI-generated content, including images, videos, music, and text, without compromising quality. It's not visible to people, but detectable by features like "About this image" in Circle to Search and Google Lens. Imagen already uses it. When you make generative AI edits (e.g., change the background or add elements) to pictures with Reimagine on the Pixel 9, Google Photos will embed the SynthID watermark. The safety feature is rolling out this week. However, Google warns that some Reimagine edits "may be too small for SynthID to label and detect." An example of this is changing the "color of a small flower in the background of an image." This joins how Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, and Zoom Enhance already add IPTC metadata to their outputs. Back in October, the Google Photos Details sheet was updated with an "AI info" section that identifies whether a work was "Edited using Generative AI" or a "Composite of captured elements" (like Best Take or Add Me).

Google is adding AI watermarks to photos manipulated by Magic Editor

SynthID is a watermarking system created by Google's DeepMind team that embeds a digital metadata tag directly into images, video, audio, and text to identify if they were created or altered using AI tools. The watermark is already being applied to images that are entirely AI-generated using Google's Imagen text-to-image model. Similar watermarking systems have also been developed by other companies, like the Content Credentials that Adobe applies to works created or edited using its suite of Creative Cloud apps.

We're bringing SynthID to Reimagine in Magic Editor.

Starting this week, Google Photos will begin using SynthID (a technology that embeds an imperceptible, digital watermark directly into AI-generated images, audio, text or video) to mark images edited with generative AI using Reimagine in Magic Editor. You may have already seen SynthID used to watermark images created entirely by AI -- like those made by Google's text-to-image model, Imagen. This helps people identify AI-generated content quickly and easily. In some cases, edits made using Reimagine may be too small for SynthID to label and detect -- like if you change the color of a small flower in the background of an image. To learn more, you can use "About this image," which shows if a SynthID watermark is present as well as an image's metadata.