You can use SynthID verification, a tool available within the Gemini app for signed-in users, to help identify images, videos and audio generated or edited by Google's AI models.
What you need
To use SynthID verification, you need:
- A personal account or qualified Workspace account
- The latest version of the Gemini app if you use the app to verify content.
- To be signed in to Gemini Apps. Learn how to sign in to Gemini Apps.
Upload your content for verification
Important: You can only choose a single image, video or audio file to verify at a time, and it should have a file size of 100 MB or less. If you're taking a screenshot of an image to verify, make sure that you crop tight around the image to get maximum accuracy, and don't upload a collage of multiple distinct images. Videos need to be less than 90 seconds each, and audio files need to be less than 1 hour each
- On your computer, go to https://gemini.google.com.
- Click Add files
.
- To upload a supported file from your device, click Files
.
- To upload a supported file from your photo library, click Gallery
.
- To add a supported file from your Google Drive, click Drive
.
Tip: To add files from your Drive, you need to have Keep activity on and connect Google Workspace to Gemini Apps. If it's not connected, you'll get the option to connect it. Learn about your Gemini Apps and Google Workspace data.
- To upload a supported file from your device, click Files
- Ask a verification question such as:
- 'Was this image/video/audio created or edited by Google AI?'
- 'Is this AI-generated?'
Tip: You can also enter @synthid to start the verification process.
About the verification results
Once the verification process is complete, Gemini will provide a response based on the results of the verification.
- If a SynthID watermark is detected, it means that all or part of the image was created or edited by Google's AI models.
- If a SynthID watermark isn't detected, it means that the image wasn't created or edited by Google AI, but it could have been created by other AI systems.
- In some cases it isn’t clear if the image or video was created or edited by Google AI or not. Some common reasons for this are:
- 'Not enough details to watermark' (e.g. very simple or abstract content).
- 'Likely too small an edit' (minor alterations might not carry a detectable watermark).
For video files, Gemini will state which parts of the video a SynthID watermark was detected in. This doesn't mean that it was detected in all parts of that portion of the video.
Other ways to identify AI-generated content
While content verification in the Gemini app can be a powerful tool, you can also use other methods to identify potentially AI-generated content:
- Look for visual artifacts: Examine images and videos for inconsistencies or errors that are common in AI-generated content. These can include:
- Inconsistent or garbled text within the image or video.
- Errors in small details, such as hands, teeth or background elements.
- Inconsistent shadows and lighting.
- Repetitive patterns that seem unnatural.
- Reverse image search: Use reverse image search tools (e.g. Google Images) to find original sources or similar images. This can help you determine if the content has a known origin or if it's new and not created or altered by AI.
- Metadata analysis: If you have access to the original file (not a screenshot), you can check for embedded information.
- Camera information: Traditional photos often include EXIF data with camera models, dates and settings. However, this is not always a reliable way to determine if the content was created or edited by AI as it can be altered.
- Traces of editing software: Metadata can sometimes show if professional editing software was used.