Google is turning Gemini into a more accessible checkpoint for AI content provenance. The Gemini app can examine supported media for SynthID, Google's invisible watermarking technology, and report whether an image or video was created or edited with Google AI tools. For video, the check extends across both visual and audio tracks, helping identify the segments that contain Google AI-generated material.
The development matters because generative media is increasingly difficult to assess by appearance alone. Gemini's feature does not claim to be a universal detector for all AI-generated content. Instead, it provides a direct way to inspect provenance signals embedded by Google's own AI tools, alongside Content Credentials, a separate digital provenance mechanism documented for Gemini.
Google described the video capability in its official Gemini app announcement. Users can upload a video and ask a question such as, “Was this generated using Google AI?” Gemini then scans for SynthID and indicates the relevant segments. Google also supports image checks with prompts such as “Is this AI-generated?”
What Gemini's AI verification can establish
The key distinction is between detecting a verified signal and making a broad judgment about every piece of synthetic media. A positive SynthID result indicates that Gemini found Google's watermark in the uploaded content. That gives users an attributable signal tied to Google's AI ecosystem, rather than a conclusion based only on visual patterns or an AI model's confidence.
Gemini's documented verification options include:
- Images, which can be checked for SynthID evidence associated with content created or edited by Google AI tools.
- Videos, which Gemini can scan for SynthID across visual and audio tracks and identify affected segments.
- Provenance information, through Content Credentials, which function as a digital record associated with a piece of content.
Google's published limits for the Gemini app are up to 100 MB per image file and videos of up to 90 seconds. The video verification feature is available in the languages and countries where the Gemini app is supported. Gemini Apps Help documentation also notes Android support for the verification experience, with iOS support described as coming soon.
SynthID and Content Credentials serve different roles
SynthID and Content Credentials both address content provenance, but they are not interchangeable. SynthID is an invisible watermark that Google can scan for in media. Content Credentials are a digital provenance passport that can carry information about a content item's history. For a business reviewing AI media, the two mechanisms can provide different forms of evidence.
| Technology | What it is | How it is used in Gemini |
|---|---|---|
| SynthID | An invisible watermark developed by Google | Gemini scans supported images and videos for the watermark, including video audio and visual tracks. |
| Content Credentials | A digital provenance passport | Gemini provides provenance-related information through this separate technology. |
That distinction is important for governance teams. A watermark check can help establish that a file carries a particular technical signal. Provenance metadata can add context about a file's origin or history. Neither should be treated as a standalone substitute for an organization's review process, approval controls, or recordkeeping requirements.
A practical provenance tool, not a universal AI detector
The value of Gemini's approach is its specificity. Teams handling marketing assets, training content, customer communications, or user-submitted media can ask a clear question about whether a file contains a Google AI watermark. The response can inform subsequent handling, such as requesting source files, applying internal labels, or escalating a review.
Its scope is also a limitation that readers should understand. The supplied Google materials describe verification of content carrying Google's SynthID watermark and the use of Content Credentials. They do not establish that Gemini can reliably identify every image, video, or audio file produced by other AI systems, nor that the absence of a SynthID result proves a file was made without AI.
For enterprises, that makes the feature most useful as one component in a provenance workflow. It can reduce uncertainty for media associated with Google AI while making the verification step easier to perform inside a consumer-facing AI application.
As AI-generated media enters more business processes, visibility into what answer engines and AI assistants say about a brand becomes equally important. Scalevise helps organizations assess that exposure, identify gaps in AI-facing information, and build clearer content signals around their expertise. Use the AI Visibility GEO Checker to see how your business appears across AI-driven discovery and prioritize the improvements that matter most. Start an AI Visibility scan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gemini's SynthID check verify?
It checks whether supported uploaded media contains Google's SynthID watermark, a signal associated with content created or edited by Google AI tools.
Can Gemini check AI-generated videos?
Yes. Gemini can scan uploaded videos for SynthID across visual and audio tracks and indicate which segments contain Google AI-generated content.
What file limits apply to Gemini's verification feature?
Google states that image files can be up to 100 MB and videos can be up to 90 seconds long.
Is Gemini a universal detector for all AI-generated content?
No. The documented feature checks for Google's SynthID watermark and uses Content Credentials for provenance information. A missing SynthID result does not prove that content was not made with AI.
Conclusion
Gemini's SynthID checks give users a practical way to inspect images and videos for provenance signals tied to Google AI. By pairing invisible watermark detection with Content Credentials, Google is making media verification more accessible, while preserving an important boundary: the tool can identify supported signals, not definitively classify every AI-generated file.
