What SynthID is
SynthID is an invisible watermark that Google's AI tools embed in generated media, distinct from ordinary file metadata. Google says it has watermarked more than 100 billion images and videos, and that other companies, including OpenAI and ElevenLabs, are adopting the technology. Because the signal lives in the content itself, an EXIF viewer cannot see it and a visual impression cannot confirm it. Image Evidence has no SynthID detector integration.
Source: Google: identifying AI-generated media (opens in a new tab)
Use an official route
Google lets people upload an image, video or audio file to the Gemini app and ask “Is this made with AI?” to check for SynthID. It has also offered a SynthID Detector portal to early testers and announced a detection API for businesses. For supported OpenAI-generated media, OpenAI previews its own verifier. These are separate services with their own conditions and data handling; this page links to guidance and does not send files anywhere on your behalf.
Interpret a missing signal
A watermark check can only answer questions within the detector's supported coverage. If no signal is found, the origin may still be unknown. The file could come from a different generator, a different export path or a version with other provenance behavior. Changes to the file can also limit analysis. Do not treat an absent watermark as proof of a real scene, and do not equate a found watermark with a truthful caption.
SynthID versus C2PA
SynthID and C2PA answer different questions. C2PA Content Credentials are signed metadata that can describe capture, generation and edits, but they can be stripped when a file is re-saved or screenshotted. A SynthID watermark is embedded in the content and is designed to survive some common changes, but it only reveals that a SynthID-using tool was involved. A file can carry both signals, one of them or neither.
Keep verification responsible
Ask the owner for an original file when appropriate and preserve the claimed source in your own notes. Use only material you are entitled to process, especially when images contain private information. Image Evidence does not identify faces, locate people, train on user content or remove watermarks, and it does not help anyone bypass detection. For an important dispute, consult multiple sources and record unresolved questions instead of presenting a provisional result as a certificate.
How do I check if an image has a SynthID watermark?
Upload the original file to the Gemini app and ask whether it was made with AI. Gemini looks for the SynthID signal and reports what it finds. Use the highest-quality copy you have, and remember that a result applies to that file, not to every copy of the image.
Can SynthID be detected after an image is edited?
Google designs SynthID to remain detectable after some common changes, such as filters or compression, so a watermark may still be found after modest edits. Heavy edits can weaken it, and no watermark survives every change. A negative result on an edited copy is therefore less informative than one on an original.
Does a SynthID result mean an image is fake?
It means a SynthID-watermarking AI tool was used somewhere in the file's history. The image may be a fully generated illustration, a lightly edited photo or openly disclosed creative work. Whether it is misleading depends on how it is presented, which a watermark cannot judge.