AI-Edited Images to be Watermarked
This article discusses the implementation of watermarks on images edited using a specific AI feature. The goal is to ensure transparency and allow users to identify when an image has been significantly altered using artificial intelligence.
Quick Summary
Here’s a brief overview of the key points:
- Starting this week, images edited with the "Reimagine" tool in a specific photo editor will be watermarked.
- The technology used for watermarking is called SynthID, developed by Google DeepMind.
- Users can view the watermark using the "About this image" feature in Search or Chrome.
The AI Editing Feature
A specific AI-powered editing tool, often found in newer smartphone series allows users to make substantial changes to photos. It allows users to use descriptive prompts to modify or recreate sections of images. You can select parts of a photo and either add or remove elements by describing what you want the final image to look like. This tool makes sophisticated edits accessible without the need for professional skills, and the results can appear quite realistic.
The Need for Watermarking
Because this tool enables the recreation of large portions of an image, the company wants to make it easy for others to recognize that the resulting image has been generated or heavily modified by AI. The goal is user transparency.
Introduction to SynthID
To address this, the company is using a technology called SynthID to mark images edited with this "Reimagine" feature.
- What is SynthID? SynthID is a technology developed by Google’s DeepMind division. It’s designed to identify and watermark content created or significantly altered by AI.
- How does it work? SynthID embeds a unique, digital watermark directly into the image, video, or audio.
- Existing Use: This technology is already being used to watermark images generated by other AI tools.
Features of the SynthID Watermark
The SynthID watermarks offer several key characteristics:
- Invisible to the human eye: The watermark is designed to be undetectable to the naked eye.
- No Impact on Quality: The image quality isn’t compromised.
- Metadata Proof: The watermark can’t be removed simply by cleaning up the image metadata.
- Resistant to Modifications: The watermark remains detectable even after common edits like cropping, adding filters, or changing colors.
How to Identify Watermarked Images
Users will be able to check for the SynthID watermark using the "About this image" feature in Search or Chrome. This feature provides more information about the image, including whether a SynthID watermark is present. The feature displays the image metadata.