Google has expanded global access to its SynthID Detector, allowing users to check images, videos and audio files for signs of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content as concerns over online misinformation and media authenticity continue to grow.
The tool is now available worldwide in English, enabling people to identify media created using supported AI systems from Google and its partners, including OpenAI, NVIDIA and Kakao. Apple is also expected to join the initiative soon.
According to PUNCH Online on Saturday, Google DeepMind Vice-President of Science and Strategic Initiatives, Pushmeet Kohli, announced the expansion in a statement published on the company’s blog on October 7, 2026.
Kohli said the move was part of Google’s broader effort to provide users with more information about the digital content they encounter as AI technologies become increasingly sophisticated and accessible.
“As AI tools become better and easier to use, having clear context about the content you encounter online helps you make informed decisions about what to trust,” he said.
How Google’s SynthID Detector Works
Google introduced SynthID in 2023 to help identify AI-generated content through imperceptible digital watermarks embedded in images, videos and audio.
Unlike visible labels, these watermarks are designed to remain undetectable to the human eye or ear while providing a means of identifying content generated by supported AI systems.
According to Kohli, Google has used the technology to watermark more than 180 billion images and videos, alongside approximately 240,000 years of audio content.
“To date, we’ve watermarked over 180 billion images and videos, along with 240,000 years of audio content,” he said.
The latest expansion builds on an earlier version of the SynthID Detector introduced last year to help media professionals verify AI-generated material.
Google is now making the tool available to the wider public, allowing users to submit supported images, videos and audio files for analysis.
OpenAI, NVIDIA and Kakao Among Supported AI Partners
The expanded detector is designed to help users check whether media was generated using AI tools from Google and participating partners.
Kohli said the service supports content from Google and partners, including OpenAI, NVIDIA and Kakao, with Apple expected to join in the future.
“With the new SynthID Detector, anyone can easily check if an image, video, or audio file was made with AI from Google or our partners, including OpenAI, NVIDIA, Kakao, and soon, Apple,” he said.
Users can access the service through the SynthID Detector platform to examine media for indications of AI generation.
However, the tool’s effectiveness depends on whether the content contains detectable SynthID watermarks. It should not be treated as a universal detector capable of identifying every AI-generated image, video or audio recording, particularly content created with unsupported systems.
Google Integrates AI Content Verification Across Its Services
The SynthID Detector expansion complements Google’s existing content verification features available through Google Search, the Gemini app and the Chrome browser.
Kohli said these tools collectively handle more than one million requests daily, reflecting growing demand for information about the origin and authenticity of online media.
“This tool joins our built-in verification features in Search, the Gemini app, and Chrome, which now regularly handle over 1 million requests daily,” he said.
He added that the initiative was intended to help users better understand the media they encounter online and navigate the internet with greater confidence.
“It’s all part of our ongoing work to give you more context about the media you see online, so you can navigate the web with confidence,” Kohli said.
Why Google’s AI Detection Tool Matters
The global expansion comes as AI-generated images, videos and audio become increasingly common across social media platforms, websites and other digital channels.
While generative AI offers opportunities for creativity, communication and productivity, the technology has also raised concerns about fabricated images, manipulated recordings and misleading videos being presented as authentic.
Tools such as SynthID Detector could help journalists, researchers, content creators and ordinary internet users establish the origins of digital media before sharing or relying on it.
Nevertheless, digital watermarking is only one part of the broader effort to address AI-generated misinformation. Users may still need to examine the original source of a claim, check independent reporting and seek additional evidence when assessing questionable content.
By expanding SynthID Detector beyond media professionals, Google is seeking to make AI content verification more accessible as the internet continues to evolve.