Google Photos Will Soon Indicate If an Image is AI Generated

In recent times, AI image generators have gained significant popularity. There are numerous dedicated applications and websites that allow users to create AI images simply by entering a few descriptive prompts. Moreover, mainstream platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram have also integrated features that enable AI image generation.

This proliferation of AI-generated imagery has led to challenges in distinguishing between authentic photographs and those created or altered by AI technologies. In light of this concern, Google is proactively addressing the situation by working on tools to help users differentiate between real images and those produced by AI.

Recent explorations of the Google Photos Android app have revealed code snippets that suggest upcoming capabilities for identifying AI-generated images. These findings were uncovered in version 7.3 of the Google Photos app, showcasing the following XML code:

The resource identified as “@id/credit”could potentially display a credit label for the image. According to Android Authority, images produced using Google Gemini are tagged with “Made with Google AI,”a reference that is embedded within the image’s EXIF data.

Additionally, when users utilize the Magic Editor in Google Photos, images receive labels such as “AI-Generated with Google Photos”and “AI-Generated with Google.”Another identified code, “@id/digital_source_type,”pertains to the origin source of the image, indicating how the image was created.

For example, if an image results from a Generative AI model, it will show a value of “compositeWithTrainedAlgorithmicMedia.”However, the specific purpose of the “@id/ai_info”ID resource remains unclear.

It is anticipated that this information will be accessible in the image details section, facilitating the examination of IPTC metadata to easily discern if an image is AI-generated. Although these updates are not yet active in the Google Photos Android app, they are likely to be included in a forthcoming update.

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