AI-generated images are getting so realistic that it’s becoming almost impossible to tell what’s real and what’s fake. But what if you could check whether an image was created using AI?
That’s where Google SynthID comes in. In this guide, we’ll show you how to detect AI-generated images using Google’s SynthID Detector and share what happened when we tested it with real and AI-created images.
Watch our full video tutorial below:
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What Is Google SynthID?
Google SynthID is an AI watermarking technology developed by Google DeepMind. It adds invisible digital watermarks to supported AI-generated content, including images and videos.
These watermarks aren’t visible to the human eye, but Google’s detection technology can identify them.
The goal is simple: help people recognize AI-generated content and reduce the spread of misleading images and deepfakes.
How to Detect AI-Generated Images Using Google SynthID
Step 1: Open Google SynthID Detector
Visit Google SynthID and open the SynthID Detector.
Sign in with your Google account if prompted.
Step 2: Upload an Image
Click the upload option and select the image you want to check.
You can start with an original photograph or an image you suspect was generated using AI.
Step 3: Check the Detection Results
Once your image is uploaded, SynthID scans it for an invisible digital watermark.
You may see results such as:
- SynthID Detected: A SynthID watermark was found.
- SynthID Not Detected: No SynthID watermark was identified.
Important: No watermark detected doesn’t necessarily mean the image is real. Not every AI-generated image contains a SynthID watermark.
Step 4: Compare Real and AI-Generated Images
In our video, we tested two nearly identical images: an original photograph and an AI-generated recreation made using ChatGPT.
Here’s what happened:
- Original image: SynthID was not detected.
- AI-generated image: SynthID was detected.
Even though both images looked almost identical, the tool successfully identified the watermark in the AI-generated version.
Step 5: Test an Image with AI-Generated Elements
Next, we tested a YouTube thumbnail combining an original photograph with AI-generated background elements.
Surprisingly, SynthID did not detect a watermark, even though AI was used to create parts of the thumbnail.
This shows why you shouldn’t rely on AI detection tools alone when verifying images.
Is Google SynthID 100% Accurate?
No. Google SynthID is useful, but it’s not a foolproof AI image detector.
Its detection capabilities depend on whether the content contains a supported SynthID watermark. Some AI-generated or heavily edited images may not be identified.
Google also supports watermarking for other content types, including audio and text, although available detection options can vary.
Final Thoughts
Google SynthID is a helpful tool for checking AI-generated images, especially as realistic AI content becomes more common.
Our testing showed that it successfully detected an AI-generated recreation but missed a thumbnail containing AI-generated elements.
The takeaway? Use SynthID as one verification method, not as definitive proof that an image is real or fake.
Want to see the actual results? Watch our full video tutorial above and subscribe to WebSensePro for more practical AI tools and tutorials.
