Google Photos: news on the transparency of changes to | Dall e mini generator | Best free ai image generator android | Best dall e 3 image generator online | Turtles AI

Google Photos: news on the transparency of changes to
Information on the changes to the photos arrive, but there is still no visible filigree to distinguish the synthetic content
Isabella V

 

 

Google Photos will introduce a disclosure that signals when images have been edited using AI features. Despite this step toward transparency, visible watermarks are missing. The new measures aim to improve user trust.

Key points:

  • Google Photos will add information about AI edits in photos.
  • Changes will be visible in the “Details” tab.
  • There will be no visual watermarks on images.
  • Google is working to improve transparency.

Google Photos, starting next week, will introduce a significant new feature: a disclosure that will highlight when a photo has been edited through its AI features, such as Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, and Zoom Enhance. Users who click on a photo and scroll down to the “Details” section will find an indication that it has been edited by Google AI. This initiative, as stated by the company, is designed to increase transparency, a response to growing concern about the dissemination of synthetic content without clear notice. Currently, however, notice of changes occurs only in image metadata, and there are no visual watermarks that would make the artificial nature of the photo immediately obvious, a shortcoming that has raised criticism. People, in fact, tend to quickly scroll through images on social media without delving into the details, which could lead to misunderstandings about the authenticity of the images viewed.

In an official blog post, Google announced the new feature only two months after the launch of its Pixel 9 phones, which offer several AI-based editing options. This step is seen as a response to criticism received for the absence of clear visual cues regarding AI editing. As for other features such as Best Take and Add Me, Google Photos will also flag edits in the metadata, but not directly in the Details tab, where users may not pay attention. The lack of visible watermarks continues to be a problem, according to experts, as it may not provide an adequate level of protection against misinformation. Although visual watermarks would not be a foolproof solution, given the ability to crop them, they were considered an option to make synthetic content more recognizable.

Google plans to extend this transparency to other platforms as well, with Meta already reporting AI content on Facebook and Instagram, while Google is preparing similar measures in Search by the end of the year. The company has been considering further improvements, with Google Photos communications manager Michael Marconi emphasizing a commitment to gathering feedback and refining solutions. Every photo edited with AI tools will be marked in the metadata, and the new disclosure will be accompanied by a distinctive icon to make it easier to find those details. In addition, images edited by Google AI will be cataloged more clearly, differentiating edits made through generative AI from those achieved through tools such as Add Me and Best Take, exclusive to Pixel devices. This feature, expected next week, marks a significant step forward in Google’s effort to ensure that visual content is properly identifiable. Google has also joined the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) to confirm its commitment to greater clarity and authenticity in images.

The upcoming update is thus a key part of Google’s strategy in navigating challenges related to trust and transparency in the context of AI editing.