Generative AI & LLMs
Watermarking
Adding a detectable mark or signal to material to show where it came from or who owns it.
Example
An AI picture contains a visible mark or a hidden signal a checking tool can detect.
Why people use it
It can attach a sign of origin or ownership to a piece of media.
What you'll hear
“Is there a mark showing where this came from?”
What this means for you
Examine the file's history as well as any watermark.
Can you control it?
Sometimes
Sometimes. Your choices depend on the tool and your access. The settings available to an everyday user may differ from those available to the people running it.
Common questions
- Can a watermark prove every claim about a file?
- No. Signals can be absent, damaged or misinterpreted.
- Must a watermark be visible?
- No. Some marks are visible, while others are designed for software to detect.
- Can editing damage the watermark?
- Yes. Cropping, compression or other changes can weaken or remove some kinds of marks.