Meta is preparing tools to identify AI-generated images

Meta is building tools to identify images created by artificial intelligence (AI). The company’s head of global affairs, Nick Clegg, announced the news in a broadcast this Tuesday (6).

All of Meta’s AI-generated images contain invisible metadata and identifiers that indicate they were created by generative models. However, this is not available on competing services.

Meta is developing tools and markers to identify AI-generated images on neighboring platforms such as creators from Google, OpenAI, Microsoft and Adobe, according to the executive.

“As the distinction between human and synthetic content blurs, people want to know where the line is,” Clegg said. “People are often encountering AI-generated content for the first time, and our users have told us they appreciate the transparency around this technology,” he emphasized.

Clegg therefore recognizes the importance of highlighting when an image is created by a generative model.

Greater transparency helps Meta prevent the spread of harmful AI-generated content. “People in organizations that actively seek to deceive others with AI-generated content will look for ways to bypass detection mechanisms,” Clegg said.

All posts containing images generated by artificial intelligence on Meta’s social networks (Instagram, Facebook and Threads) will be identified with a specific tag.

According to Clegg, this capability is under development and identifiers will be implemented within the next few months. The executive emphasized that agility is important to preserve the integrity of elections to be held in many countries this year.

However, the Meta tool will be limited to images. Descriptors will not yet be able to distinguish between audio or video content generated by AI.