OpenAI Adds Metadata and Watermarking to Identify AI Images

May 20, 2026
OpenAI has introduced two new measures to help identify images created by its models, adopting the C2PA metadata standard and integrating Google's SynthID watermarking system. The company is also previewing a public verification tool to check for these signals.
OpenAI Adds Metadata and Watermarking to Identify AI Images
Image: OpenAI

OpenAI has introduced two new measures to help verify whether an image was created by its models, reports TechCrunch. The company has adopted the C2PA standard, which embeds a visible signal in image metadata, and partnered with Google to include the invisible SynthID watermark.

C2PA, developed by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity, provides a metadata tag indicating AI generation. This tag can be read or modified but helps maintain transparency among trusted users. SynthID, created by Google, embeds a watermark within the image data that remains intact even after resizing, screenshotting, or other digital changes.

OpenAI said the two techniques complement each other, with metadata providing accessible information and watermarking offering durability. The company is also previewing a public verification tool that checks for both signals, initially limited to images generated by OpenAI products but planned for broader support in the future.

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