Google's Messages App Now Warns About AI-Edited Photos

Google has rolled out a new feature for its Messages app that makes it easier to spot AI-edited photos in group chats. The update adds support for Content Credentials, which provide a digital history of media files. This includes information on whether an image was captured using a camera or edited with the help of AI tools.

The feature is based on the C2PA standard and works by attaching a digital paper trail to photos, videos, and audio files. When you receive a suspicious-looking photo in a group chat, you can press and hold the message, tap Info, and look for 'How this was made' to see its origin and editing history.

However, it's essential to note that Content Credentials won't tell you whether something is real or fake. They only show the history attached to a file, so if an image contains credentials showing AI tools were used, it's still up to you to decide what to do with it.

The feature is currently limited to the Google Messages app on Android and doesn't work for files without compatible Content Credentials. Despite its limitations, this new feature could be useful in verifying the authenticity of photos and videos shared in group chats.