HomeAI NewsGoogle lets users remove visible watermarks from AI-generated content

Google lets users remove visible watermarks from AI-generated content

A macro close-up photograph shows the Google Gemini AI application icon on a smartphone screen set against a dark background in San Ferdinando di Puglia, Italy, on May 17, 2026. The icon displays a colorful four-pointed star with a gradient ranging from red and orange through blue and green, positioned on a white rounded-rectangle background. The Gemini wordmark appears in white below the icon. A fingertip is partially visible at the upper right. Gemini is Google's flagship generative AI assistant, representing a major competitor in the consumer-facing large language model market as of May 2026. (Photo Illustration by Matteo Della Torre/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
GenAI News
By GenAI News

Google’s move to make visible watermarks optional keeps invisible SynthID and C2PA metadata for transparency.

Google announced on Friday that users can now remove visible watermarks from AI-generated images, videos, and songs without affecting invisible SynthID watermarks or C2PA metadata. The change applies to the Nano Banana, Omni, and Lyria models.

Josh Woodward, Google’s vice president for Gemini, stated on X that the watermark toggle will appear in Gemini and the company’s video editor, Flow. The company also plans to bring the setting to Search later. Google framed the change as a balance between creative control and safety, as visible watermarks often reduce the utility of professional and creative content.

For developers and operators, the invisible SynthID and C2PA metadata remain the trustworthy layer for checking AI provenance. Google also open-sourced Credentio, a library that lets developers embed local validation mechanisms into their apps. Removing visible marks does not prevent verification of AI-generated content.

The watermark toggle will roll out in the coming days. Users can find it in Settings under Media Watermark. Google also plans to bring the setting to Search, and developers can explore the Credentio library for local validation. The change follows Anthropic’s decision to add watermarks to Claude-generated text and files for EU compliance.

What matters

  • Google now lets users remove visible watermarks from AI images, videos, and songs.
  • The change matters because invisible SynthID and C2PA metadata still preserve provenance for builders.
  • Watch for the rollout in Gemini and Flow, with Google Search support coming soon.

Why it matters

Watch for the rollout in Gemini and Flow, with Google Search support coming soon.

This GenAI News article was prepared in original wording using reporting and materials published by TechCrunch AI. Source reference: https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/14/google-will-now-allow-users-to-remove-visible-watermark-from-its-ai-generations/.

Drafted by the GenAI News review pipeline.

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