Google Photos Will Make it Clearer When an Image Has Been Edited With AI

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Key Takeaways

  • Google Photos will label images modified using AI tools and showcase disclosure notes.
  • The new labeling feature will be available in the “Details” section of Google Photos' web and app versions.
  • The absence of visible watermarks may impede quick identification of AI-edited images, but Google is considering adding them for transparency.

Starting next week, Google Photos will begin to label images edited with AI features like Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, or Zoom Enhance and include disclosure notes.

Photos modified with these tools already feature IPTC-compliant metadata that indicates they were altered using generative AI. Now, the company will display AI editing data alongside details such as location, file name, and backup information in Google Photos. When users open a photo and scroll to the bottom of the “Details” section, a new note will indicate if the image was “Edited with Google AI.” Google revealed this new disclosure in a blog post on October 24.

The “AI info” section will be available in the image details view across both the web and app. These labels will also indicate when a photo includes components from multiple images, such as when using Best Take and Add Me features exclusive to Pixel devices.

Google Clarifies AI-Edited Images, but Watermarks Are Still Lacking

Google claims the new disclosure aims to “further improve transparency.” However, since most people quickly glance at online photos and move on, the absence of visible watermarks may hinder users from quickly identifying AI-edited images.

The tech giant acknowledges its ongoing work and will continue collecting feedback while exploring solutions to enhance AI edit transparency. As reported by TechCrunch, Google has not ruled out the possibility of implementing visual watermarks to its photos.

The announcement followed the launch of the Pixel 9, which incorporates Google’s latest AI algorithms for enhanced image processing and manipulation. Its advanced photo editing tools allow users to create hyper-realistic images, raising ethical concerns about potential misuse for misinformation and evidence manipulation. Critics argue that Google’s essential safeguards, such as metadata tagging, are insufficient, leading to calls for stronger regulations and improved detection algorithms to address these risks.