iOS 27.2 adds invisible watermarks to photos edited with Apple's AI tools

[CoherentRunner]

Apple is now marking photos that have been changed with its AI editing tools. 9to5Mac reports that in iOS 27.2, Clean Up, Extend, Spatial Reframing, Image Playground and Image Wand add an invisible SynthID watermark

That includes your own real photos when you edit them with Clean Up, Extend or Reframing. The watermark cannot be seen, but you can check an image by uploading it to Google's SynthID website

The article mentions no setting to turn the watermark off. It is also unclear whether the watermark survives heavy compression or being shared through messaging apps

SynthID is Google's technology, so Apple using it suggests a wider move towards common standards for labelling AI edited images. That kind of cooperation between rivals is unusual

Marking AI edits is a sensible step at a time when fake images spread quickly online. Many people will be surprised to learn that removing a stray person from a holiday photo now leaves a hidden mark. Knowing that helps you make an informed choice about which tools to use

Should AI edits always be marked? And does it bother you that your own photos get a hidden watermark?

iOS 27.2 adds Apple Photos invisible watermark feature, here's how it works - 9to5Mac9to5mac.com