Google Photos is making changes to show when a picture has been edited using AI tools. Starting next week, if an image was changed with the help of AI, the app will display this information alongside details like the file name, location, and backup status.
John Fisher, an engineering director at Google Photos, explained in a blog post that photos edited with tools like Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, or Zoom Enhance already include hidden data that shows they were edited with AI. Now, Google is making this information easier to find by adding an “AI info” section in the image details view. This update will appear in the Photos app on both the web and mobile devices.
The labels will not only be for generative AI edits. Google will also indicate if a photo contains parts from several different images, such as when using the Pixel’s Best Take or Add Me features. While this is a step toward more transparency, people who want to hide AI edits might still find ways to do so.
Google says it will keep working to improve how it labels AI-edited images and will seek feedback for more ways to be clear about AI edits.
In the past, hidden data showing AI use was not easy for users to see. This was a concern for some, especially since tools like Magic Editor’s Reimagine could add things to photos that were not originally there. Unlike Google, Apple has been cautious about adding AI features that create realistic images, saying it is worried about AI making people question if photos are real.
Editing photos is nothing new, but today’s AI tools make it very easy to create realistic-looking fake images without much effort.
Source: theverge
