AI-generated images and videos are getting so convincing that sometimes it’s hard to know what you’re looking at. And if you create or share content online, that’s worth paying attention to.

So, how do you check if AI was involved?

That’s where Google’s SynthID Detector comes in. Let’s check it out!

You’re scrolling through Instagram when you spot an incredible photo. A little too incredible, perhaps. The lighting is perfect, the details are unreal, and you find yourself wondering: Did someone actually take this photo, or did AI create it?

And honestly, these days, who can tell?

Meet SynthID Detector, a tool from Google that helps you check whether an image, video or audio file contains an invisible AI watermark.

AI-generated content can carry invisible digital watermarks that aren't noticeable when you look at or listen to the content. SynthID Detector checks for these watermarks and tells you whether it finds evidence of them.

Google has now opened the tool to everyone globally in English, with support for content from Google and partners including OpenAI, NVIDIA and Kakao.

Imagine you're a content creator who finds the perfect image for a post. Or a social media manager who's received a video that looks suspiciously polished. Before sharing it, you want to know a little more about where it came from.

That's where SynthID Detector could help. It's one more way to investigate the content crossing your screen, instead of relying on guesswork.

Head over to SynthID Detector, sign in and upload an image, video or audio file. The tool will check it for supported SynthID watermarks. Usage limits apply.

Here's the catch: this isn't a magic AI detector. It only looks for supported watermarks. If it doesn't find one, that doesn't mean the content is real or that AI wasn't involved.

Think of it as one useful clue, not the final verdict.

As creators, we're getting better at making things with AI. But we're also entering a world where figuring out what we're looking at is becoming just as important.

SynthID Detector is worth bookmarking for those moments when you want to investigate a piece of content before sharing it.

Give it a try: synthid.com

Tip 1: No watermark doesn't mean no AI. SynthID only checks for supported watermarks. AI-generated content from other tools may go undetected.

Tip 2: Don't let one check settle the question. If an image or video looks suspicious, check where it came from and look for independent confirmation before sharing it.