MIT Researchers Develop AI Tool to Protect Images from Manipulation

A group of researchers at MIT have developed a special tool called PhotoGuard that aims to combat deepfakes and AI manipulation in media. Deepfakes, which are fabricated images or videos created using AI systems, have become a concerning issue as criminals exploit this technology to create fake and malicious content. The MIT researchers have designed PhotoGuard to protect images from manipulation by adding an invisible layer on top of the original image. Unlike traditional protections that can be easily edited out, this new technology cannot be removed, even when the image is cropped, edited, or filtered. By implementing pixel altering techniques, PhotoGuard prevents bad actors from using AI tools to tamper with images and create deepfakes. Notably, Google’s DeepMind division has also developed a watermarking tool, called SynthID, to protect images from AI manipulation. The tool embeds a digital watermark directly into the pixels of an image, making it imperceptible to the human eye but detectable for identification. These innovative technologies provide crucial safeguards against the rising threat of deepfakes and AI manipulation, ensuring the integrity of digital media.