Google's SynthID Detector Now Open to Everyone, Detecting AI Media from Rivals

Google has made its SynthID Detector available to the public, allowing anyone to check whether an image, video, or audio file was created using artificial intelligence. The tool is now live globally and can be accessed in English.

The detector doesn’t just identify AI-generated content from Google’s own tools but also works with media produced by partners such as OpenAI, NVIDIA, and Kakao. Apple is expected to join this list soon, expanding the scope of the SynthID Detector.

SynthID itself was launched in 2023 and adds an imperceptible watermark to AI-generated media. This allows the detector to identify content created with these tools, even if it’s not visible or audible to humans.

Google has reported that over 180 billion images and videos have been watermarked using SynthID, while more than 240,000 years of audio have also been marked. These numbers demonstrate the vast amount of AI-generated media already present in various forms of content.

Initially, an early version of the detector was released last year for use by professionals who needed to verify content. However, with its public release, anyone can now access and utilize the tool, not just newsrooms or industry experts.

The SynthID Detector is part of Google’s existing verification features, which are integrated into Search, the Gemini app, and Chrome. These tools collectively handle over one million requests daily, indicating a growing interest in verifying content authenticity.

While the detector can only flag media that carries a SynthID watermark, its expanded support from other AI firms makes it more practical than relying on a Google-only checker. As AI-generated images and videos become increasingly convincing, tools like this are becoming essential for distinguishing between real and fake content.