Google recently announced that it will add digital watermarks to images edited using its Magic Editor AI feature, a move aimed at improving public recognition of AI generation and editing content. With this new feature, Google wants to enhance the transparency of digital photos, especially images modified with the Reimagine feature on Pixel9 devices.
Google announced this week that it will add digital watermarks to images edited using its Magic Editor AI capabilities. This watermark is especially suitable for pictures modified with the Reimagine feature on Pixel9 devices. This new feature is introduced to enhance the public's ability to recognize AI generation and edit content.
The Reimagine feature, announced in 2024, uses generative AI technology to make multifaceted modifications to digital photos. This feature is similar to other features of Magic Editor, and is designed to beautify images taken on the device. However, image editing becomes more extreme due to the use of AI, which also blurs the boundaries between digital photos and fully AI-generated images.
As generative AI images become more realistic, digital advocates have called for a common approach to help the public determine whether a photo is created entirely by AI or edited. Digital watermarks are often seen as a potential solution to this problem, as they can be added to files without directly changing the image itself.
Google will use SynthID technology developed by its DeepMind division to tag related images. This technology is able to "embed digital watermarks directly into content generated by AI without affecting the original content." Currently, SynthID can also be used to scan images to detect potential watermarks. This feature is currently in beta and can also be used with AI-generated text and video files.
Users can view the metadata of the photo by clicking "About this image" to locate the digital watermark. Google also pointed out that not all edits trigger the use of SynthID. For example, if the user changes the color of a small flower in the background, it may not be marked and detected by SynthID.
The launch of this feature is part of Google's greater effort to advance AI editing transparency within Google Photos. Google said its release of AI principles is a guideline for such decisions.
Key points:
Google adds digital watermarks to images edited with Magic Editor for greater transparency.
This watermark is provided by DeepMind's SynthID technology and can be embedded without changing the content of the image.
Users can view the watermark through metadata, but not all minor modifications will be marked with watermarks.
Google's move marks further efforts in AI technology transparency and user trust, which may have a profound impact on the industry as a whole in the future.