At the recent Google I/O event, the tech giant unveiled a new tool called SynthID Detector, designed to identify content created using Google’s AI technologies.
In a blog post, Pushmeet Kohli of Google DeepMind referred to the SynthID Detector as “a verification portal” that enables users to “quickly and efficiently identify AI-generated content made with Google AI.” The tool can also pinpoint which sections of the content may carry a SynthID watermark.
According to Kohli, SynthID watermarks are applied to various types of AI-generated media, including images, text, audio, and videos, produced using Google’s Gemini, Imagen, Lyria, and Veo models.
Kohli explained the functionality of the tool:
When you upload an image, an audio track, a video, or any text created using Google’s AI tools, the portal scans the material for a SynthID watermark. If a watermark is found, it highlights specific parts of the content that are most likely to be watermarked.
For audio files, the portal indicates precise segments where the SynthID watermark is detected, while images are shown with areas most likely to contain a watermark.
The rollout of the SynthID Detector is currently in progress for “early testers,” according to Kohli’s remarks in the blog.
He added, “After this initial testing phase, the portal will gradually be made available to users who sign up to access the SynthID Detector via the waitlist. We will gather insights from this group of professionals and aim to enhance content transparency on a broader scale.”
Although I am on the waitlist, I have not yet had the opportunity to test the tool personally, leaving me unable to assess its effectiveness. The question remains: will users adopt it widely once it becomes accessible? Only time will tell.
