Ask Gemini Whether a Photo or Video Was Made With Google AI
Gemini can check images, videos and audio for Google's hidden SynthID watermark. Here is how to run the check and what the answer really tells you.
The tip
Before you share or act on a surprising photo, video or voice clip, you can ask Google's Gemini whether it was made or edited with Google AI. Gemini looks for SynthID, an invisible watermark Google adds to content from its own AI tools.
- Sign in and go to gemini.google.com on a computer, or open the latest version of the Gemini app.
- Use Add files to upload one image, video or audio file from your device, Google Photos or Google Drive.
- Ask a question such as "Was this image created or edited by Google AI?" or "Is this AI-generated?"
Limits from Google's help page: one file at a time, 100 MB or less, videos under 90 seconds and audio under 1 hour. If you check a screenshot, crop it tightly around the picture and do not upload a collage.
Why it matters
Fake images and cloned voices are now easy to make and are used in scams, as in the Arup deepfake video call case. A quick check gives you one more piece of evidence before you forward something, send money or panic.
How to read the answer
- Watermark found: Google says all or part of the file was created or edited by Google's AI models. For videos, Gemini says which parts it detected.
- No watermark found: the file was not made with Google AI, but it could still come from another AI tool. This is not proof that it is real.
- Unclear: very simple images or small edits may not carry enough of a watermark to tell.
- Content Credentials: if the file has them, Gemini can show a summary of its origin, edit history and whether AI was used. Google says this works on the web and in the Android app, with iPhone support coming.
Common mistakes
Do not treat "no watermark" as a clean bill of health. Combine the check with common sense: look for odd details, search for the original source, and confirm any urgent request through a channel you already trust. For calls from "family" in trouble, a family safe word works better than any detector.
Frequently asked questions
If Gemini finds no watermark, does that mean the picture is real?
No. Google says a missing SynthID watermark means the file was not created or edited by Google AI, but it could have been made by another AI system.
Can it check content made by other AI companies?
Mostly not. Google says Gemini can currently only recognize SynthID in content created by Google AI tools. Files that carry Content Credentials can also show their origin and edit history, whoever made them.
Is there a limit on how many checks I can do?
Yes. Google's help page describes a quota of roughly 10 image checks, 10 video checks and 10 audio checks in any rolling 24 hour window. Gemini tells you when you reach it.