Google Messages has introduced a useful feature for Android users that can provide information about the creation and editing history of shared photos, videos, and audio files.
This feature uses Content Credentials technology. It allows users to see whether supported media was created with a camera or other tool and whether it subsequently received AI or non-AI editing.
If a photo has compatible Content Credentials, a “How this was made” section can appear in Google Messages.
An important point about this feature is that Google Messages does not simply look at an image to determine whether it’s real or fake. Content Credentials only provide the creation and editing history associated with that file.
If a photo does not have credentials, it does not necessarily mean it’s original or untouched. The image may have been processed through an app that does not support Content Credentials, and so the history is not available.
Checking the feature is also simple. In Google Messages on Android, press and hold a supported photo, video, or audio, then select info. The media’s history can be viewed if the “How this was made” section is available in Details.
Content Credentials are currently not available on the web version of Google Messages. This feature works for media files supported in the Android app.
This feature will give users some additional information about shared media using AI-generated images or AI-edited images. However, using only Content Credentials to prove image authenticity will not be enough.
