Meta updates AI-generated image labeling to provide more detailed information about tool usage

The technology company, Meta, has made a significant change to the labeling of images generated or edited using artificial intelligence (AI) on its social networks. Previously labeled as “Made with AI,” these images will now be labeled as “AI Information.” This change is aimed at providing more detailed information about how the technology was utilized and whether it involved minor modifications.

In February of this year, Meta announced its commitment to identifying realistic content created by AI tools on its social networks. Currently, images that have used AI technology are labeled as “Made with AI,” encompassing both content generated from scratch using AI and images that have been touched up using AI tools. However, some professional photographers expressed dissatisfaction with this labeling approach as they claim their authentic content was still labeled as “Made with AI” even if it was slightly retouched using AI tools. Notable figures like former White House photographer Pete Souza were among those affected by this labeling inconsistency.

Meta acknowledged the feedback received and disclosed that they are working on a new labeling approach that will indicate the extent of AI tool usage in labeled content. As part of this effort, they are replacing the label “Made with AI” with “AI Insights” to provide users with more information on how AI was utilized in the image. The company updated its labeling statement for AI-generated content on its website to clarify that the labels did not always align with people’s expectations and lacked sufficient context. Meta relies on industry-standard indicators used by other companies for labeling content created with AI tools to determine if something was made with AI.

In cases where minor modifications were made using AI tools, such as adjusting colors or focus in an image, these images will now be labeled as “AI Information.” Users can click on the label to learn more about why it was labeled and the extent of AI usage in the image.

This change marks a step forward in ensuring transparency and clarity regarding the use of artificial intelligence in content creation and editing.