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Microsoft embeds invisible AI watermarks in Paint and Photos apps

Microsoft's Paint and Photos applications now embed invisible watermarks in AI-generated images, according to developer Xusheng Li. This invisible watermark, which includes a server-issued GUID, is mandatory for AI image generation in Paint and will cause the process to fail if it cannot be applied. While Photos also uses a similar GUID mechanism, it will still output the image even if watermarking encounters an error. These watermarks are intended to identify AI-generated content, potentially aligning with transparency requirements of regulations like the EU AI Act. AI

IMPACT This change could impact how AI-generated content is tracked and verified, potentially influencing compliance with future regulations.

RANK_REASON This is a product update detailing new features in existing applications, not a new model release or core AI research.

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AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 3 sources. How we write summaries →

Microsoft embeds invisible AI watermarks in Paint and Photos apps

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This is a product update detailing new features in existing applications, not a new model release or core AI research.
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COVERAGE [3]

  1. Tom's Hardware TIER_1 English(EN) · Mark Tyson ·

    Microsoft Paint and Photos apps add invisible watermark to AI-generated content — developer reverse engineers GUID embedding

    A developer has uncovered some previously unknown GUID watermarking functionality deep within Microsoft’s Paint and Photos apps.

  2. Mastodon — sigmoid.social TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    Why you shouldn't worry too much about AI watermarks. We've always used tools to make us better: Photoshop for designers, spellcheck for writers, now AI for cod

    Why you shouldn't worry too much about AI watermarks. We've always used tools to make us better: Photoshop for designers, spellcheck for writers, now AI for coding and content. The tool doesn't own the work; the person does. If I have the idea, solve the problem, build the produc…

  3. The Register — AI TIER_1 English(EN) ·

    Microsoft AI watermarks in Paint and Photos are linked to user IDs, researcher finds

    Privacy? Not if you use hosted AI services