Google's new tech will help users identify AI-generated and edited photos, here's how it will work

Google is reportedly planning to roll out a new technology that will help users identify whether an image has been edited or created using AI tools. This technology will be able to identify whether a photo was taken with a camera, edited by software like Photoshop , or produced by generative AI models. This feature will be integrated into Google Search results that will provide users with information about the origin and potential manipulations of images. The company is reportedly planning to add a new "about this image" feature which is expected to be available in the coming months to offer users more transparency and help combat the spread of misinformation and deepfakes .


What is this technology that Google plans to use

According to a report by The Verge, the system Google is planning to use is part of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity ( C2PA ), which is one of the largest groups trying to address AI-generated imagery.

C2PA authentication is a technical standard which is designed to track the origin of images. By creating a digital trail, it will be able to provide information about where an image was captured and any subsequent modifications.

Major tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Adobe, Arm, OpenAI, Intel, Truepic, and Google have endorsed C2PA authentication.

Google has been a part of developing the latest version of the C2PA technical standard (2.1). Additionally, the company will use a C2PA trust list to verify the origin of content. This trust list will enable platforms like Google Search to determine the authenticity of images and other content.


What the company said about the technology


In a statement to The Verge, VP of trust and safety at Google, Laurie Richardson said: “For example, if the data shows an image was taken by a specific camera model, the trust list helps validate that this piece of information is accurate. Our goal is to ramp this up over time and use C2PA signals to inform how we enforce key policies,” says Richardson. “We’re also exploring ways to relay C2PA information to viewers on YouTube when content is captured with a camera, and we’ll have more updates on that later in the year.

Establishing and signalling content provenance remains a complex challenge, with a range of considerations based on the product or service. And while we know there’s no silver bullet solution for all content online, working with others in the industry is critical to create sustainable and interoperable solutions.”