Beginning next week, Google Photos will add a new indicator in the “Details” section to show when an image has been edited using Google’s AI tools, such as Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, or Zoom Enhance. Users viewing an edited photo will now find a disclosure at the bottom of the “Details” section, labeled “Edited with Google AI.” This move by Google aims to enhance transparency regarding AI-edited content, though it does not provide an immediate visual indication within the image itself. As a result, photos edited by AI remain visually indistinguishable at first glance, especially when shared on platforms like social media or messaging apps.
Google’s decision to introduce this disclosure follows criticism over its extensive rollout of AI photo-editing features without accompanying watermarks that would easily identify AI-edited images. In a recent blog post, Google confirmed this update, shortly after launching its latest Pixel 9 devices, which feature many of these AI photo-editing capabilities.
In addition to AI editing tools, Google Photos will now tag images edited using other features, like Best Take and Add Me, in their metadata. However, these features are not labeled in the “Details” section. While this update may help in providing more information, it does not fully address public concerns regarding AI-edited content. The absence of visible watermarks within photos leaves the distinction between real and edited images somewhat unclear, which could lead to potential misunderstandings among viewers.
Michael Marconi, a communications manager at Google Photos, stated that Google is committed to “gathering feedback, enhancing and refining our safeguards, and evaluating additional solutions to add more transparency around generative AI edits.” While metadata includes an AI disclosure for each edited photo, the fact that this information is hidden in the “Details” section and often overlooked by users presents a challenge in raising awareness of AI-altered images.
Google’s use of metadata-based watermarks aligns with similar efforts by platforms like Meta, which flags AI-edited images on Facebook and Instagram. Google has also announced that it will begin labeling AI images in its Search function later this year. However, other platforms have been slower to adopt these indicators, which could contribute to a growing presence of AI-generated content on the internet. This trend has raised concerns about the ability of users to distinguish authentic images from those generated or altered by AI technology.
