To tell whether an image was made with generative AI, check the original file for signed Content Credentials, use a watermark checker that supports the likely generator, and corroborate the image’s source and context. A positive result can document a particular tool or recorded edit; no result does not prove the image is human-made, and no checker can establish that the depicted event is true.
Start with the best copy of the image
If possible, obtain the original image file rather than a screenshot, thumbnail, or social-media preview. Keep its source URL and surrounding context. Editing, converting, or sharing a file can remove metadata or weaken other signals, so a check of a compressed copy may be less informative than a check of the original.
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Check the image’s provenance signals
Inspect Content Credentials
Content Credentials are signed provenance metadata that compatible software can attach or update. A C2PA-compatible viewer may show who or what tool created or edited a file, when recorded actions occurred, and what changes were captured in the record. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Research Integrity points readers to the free, open-source C2PA Viewer for examining these credentials.
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Check for a supported embedded watermark
Unlike metadata, an embedded watermark such as SynthID places a signal within supported media. OpenAI’s content provenance documentation and public verifier describe checks for supported OpenAI provenance signals, including C2PA credentials and SynthID. Use the checker only for the signal types and media it says it supports: it is not a universal AI detector.
A result that finds no supported signal does not rule out AI generation. The signal may be absent, unsupported, stripped, or degraded, or the image may come from another provider. A positive result is evidence about the supported signal, not proof that the image’s contents are true.
Look for history in Google Photos, if available
In the Google Photos mobile app on Android or iOS, open the image’s About panel and look for “How this was made.” For compatible files, the panel can summarize recorded composition, edits, and AI use. Google says the feature is not available for every file or in Google Photos Web, and it does not decide whether an image is real or fake. See Google Photos’ explanation of how it identifies how photos and videos were made.
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Understand what each kind of check can establish
| Check | What a positive finding can show | What a negative finding does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Signed C2PA Content Credentials | A participating tool recorded and signed provenance information, such as origin or edits. | That the image has no AI involvement; credentials can be missing or removed, and the record does not cover every event. |
| Provider-specific watermark check | A supported watermark was found in media the checker recognizes. | That no AI generator was used. The checker may not cover other providers, unsupported formats, or a signal that was degraded. |
| Platform history, such as Google Photos’ “How this was made” | Compatible credentials recorded in a file can be summarized in the app. | That the image is real or fake, or that every file will have history available. |
| Visual inspection | A feature worth investigating further. | AI origin. An odd hand, reflection, shadow, or texture is not proof, and a polished image is not proof of camera capture. |
C2PA credentials and SynthID are different kinds of signal: one records signed metadata, while the other is embedded in supported media. Their coverage and failure modes differ. For a broader account of technical approaches—including provenance, watermarking, testing, and auditing—see NIST’s overview of approaches to synthetic-content transparency, published November 20, 2024 and updated April 8, 2026.
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Corroborate the image’s origin and claim
Provenance is only one part of verification. Look for the earliest available publication, compare other versions of the image, and check whether reliable sources independently report the event it supposedly depicts. Confirm relevant details against trustworthy context. These steps may help establish where an image came from or whether its caption is plausible; they are not a guaranteed test of authenticity.
Be precise about what you are trying to determine. “Generated” and “AI-edited” are not the same: a camera photograph may have been edited with AI, while a synthetic image may combine generated and non-generated elements. A file can have a mixed history, and a record of editing does not tell you whether that edit was ethical, deceptive, or material to the claim.
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Report the result without overstating it
Describe the evidence and the scope of the check, not a verdict the evidence cannot support. For example, say “the file contains a valid credential indicating it was edited with [recorded tool]” or “this checker found no supported signal.” Name the checker and its supported signals when that information matters. Avoid saying “proved real” or “proved AI” on the strength of one tool or a visual clue.
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If the image could affect a consequential decision, do not rely on a consumer checker alone; seek expert review.
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