At a time when misinformation is a global problem, Google is improving its search capabilities by introducing two features to improve information and visual literacy.

A 2022 Poynter study found that 62% of people believe they encounter misinformation on a daily or weekly basis, underscoring the urgent need for effective tools to identify and combat misinformation.

As digital content creators continue to use AI to create images, these capabilities will allow users to assess the context and credibility of images found online.

About this image: A new tool for context

The first update, titled About This Image, is scheduled to be released in the coming months.

The tool aims to provide users with broader context around an image, including:

• The time when Google first indexed the image and similar images.
• The original appearance page of the image.
• Other online platforms where the image was displayed, e.g. B. News sites, social media and fact-checking websites.

This background information can help users assess the reliability of an image or whether a more thorough investigation is needed.

For example, “About this image” might show that an image depicting a staged moon landing was featured in news articles when it was determined to be created by AI.

This tool can be accessed as follows:

• A click on the three dots on an image in the Google Images results.
• Search with an image or screenshot in Google Lens.
• In the Google app, swipe up when viewing a page with an image
• Right click or long press on an image in Chrome on desktop and mobile (coming later this year).

AI-generated images are marked up

Google’s second announcement concerns AI-generated images.

With the introduction of generative image functions every The image generated by the AI ​​has a markup in the original file. This is to provide context when the image is found outside of Google’s platforms.

Creators and publishers have the ability to add similar markup. This means users can label images in Google Search as AI-generated.

This feature will be available from several publishers in the coming months, including Midjourney and Shutterstock.

An ongoing commitment to information literacy

The introduction of About This Image and AI-generated image markers are the latest in a series of features designed to help users make sense of what they find online.

These updates are consistent with Google’s ongoing commitment to information literacy.

In recent years, Google has introduced features similar to the About This Result tool, which allows you to see more information about a source or topic.

As the web continues to evolve, these updates provide users with essential tools to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and accuracy.