Key Points
- Google Photos will soon mark images edited with its AI tools
- New metadata note will inform users if AI edits were applied
- No visible watermark will appear on shared photos
- Aimed at enhancing transparency, especially on social platforms
Google Photos AI edits are getting a new layer of transparency. Google has announced an “Edited with Google AI” label to indicate when photos have been enhanced with its powerful AI tools, like Magic Eraser, Zoom Enhance, and Magic Editor.
This new feature will add the label to the metadata, allowing users to see if AI tools were used to edit an image. Though it won’t be a visible watermark, the label is part of Google’s commitment to AI transparency.
Google Photos just got AI upgrade
It’s literally ChatGPT for editing
Here’re 7 new features of Google Photos, you don’t want to miss pic.twitter.com/kS2VNpLVkF
— Poonam Soni (@CodeByPoonam) August 8, 2024
Google Photos AI Edits: The New Label in Action
With recent updates, Google Photos has added several features powered by artificial intelligence to improve and simplify photo editing. However, these advanced tools also mean it’s easier than ever to make realistic changes to images, leading Google to adopt new methods for disclosing AI use.
Now, when a photo is edited with Google Photos’ AI tools, a visible note stating “Edited with Google AI” will be added to the metadata.
Google Photos just got AI upgrade
It’s literally ChatGPT for editing!
Here are 5 AI-Powered features, you can’t miss pic.twitter.com/aj2cYq5f9o
— pritam (@Pritam_Roy1) March 25, 2024
Previously, information about AI edits was hidden in the photo’s metadata, which most users don’t typically check. This new label will make the use of Google Photos AI edits more apparent, allowing users to identify AI enhancements without the need for a deep dive.
Though this update doesn’t add an on-image watermark or visible label outside Google Photos, it represents a positive step towards AI transparency.
Implications of Google Photos AI Edits on Social Media
Currently, the AI-edited label appears only within Google Photos. If a user shares an image on social media, via text, or on other platforms, the “AI-edited” tag does not follow.
This keeps AI usage somewhat hidden from the general public unless platforms themselves decide to pull metadata and display it on shared images. Google has hinted that, in the future, it may collaborate with social media giants to implement these labels more widely.
As we bring AI-powered editing tools to more users, we recognize the importance of doing so responsibly. Starting next week, you’ll be able to see when a photo has been edited with Google AI right in the Google Photos app. Learn more → https://t.co/gGlC332oz5 pic.twitter.com/PwysdmGkLz
— Google Photos (@googlephotos) October 24, 2024
Other platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and even Google Search have been exploring ways to improve content transparency for AI-generated or AI-edited content.
With this new “AI-edited” tag in Google Photos, there’s hope that AI transparency measures will become more widespread, enabling clearer guidelines on AI usage in media.
