Digital Watermarking

Updated September 26, 2024

 

Digital watermarking uses technical methods to identify AI-generated content. For example:

• The European Parliament published a briefing on watermarking technology and regulation in 2023. For example:
• Google announced a watermarking tool SynthID for AI-generated images in August 2023.
• Meta announced that it is developing "common technical standards" (including C2PA and IPTC) for labeling AI-generated images on Facebook, Instagram and Threads. In July 2024, Meta released its AudioSeal technology for watermarking AI-generated speech.
• OpenAI
  • announced in February 2024 that it will use C2PA to identify images generated using ChatGPT or DALL-E 3

  • reportedly as of August 2024 has had for a year an effective tool for watermarketing ChatGPT outputs, but is unwilling to release it because many users prefer outputs that are un-watermarked (and therefore not attributable to AI).

• California passed  legislation in September 2024 mandating that generative AI systems disclose that their outputs are AI-generated.