New Delhi (India), 15th May 2023: Google is introducing two new image search features to combat the spread of disinformation, particularly now that artificial intelligence techniques have made the fabrication of photorealistic fakes cheaper and easier.
The first new feature from Alphabet Inc. is called ‘About this image,’ and it provides more data such as when an image or similar ones were originally indexed by Google, where they first appeared, and where else they’ve appeared online. The goal is to let viewers identify the original source while contextualising an image with any debunking material offered by news organisations.
Google will label every AI-generated image made by its tools as such, and it is collaborating with other platforms and services to ensure that the same markup is applied to the files they distribute.
Google has collaborated with Midjourney and Shutterstock, and the goal is to ensure that all AI material that appears in search results is labelled as such.
The authenticity of photos on the internet is a rising concern in the AI age, and several businesses are developing verification and authentication technologies.
Truepic Inc., for example, is funded by Microsoft and provides solutions that assure an image has not been changed from capture to delivery.
Google’s new features, which will be released throughout the year, are comparably low-tech, but they may have a greater positive impact if enough industry support is provided.
