Google Earth AI image tool sparks misinformation concerns

Google Earth has introduced a new feature that lets users generate hyper‑realistic images from satellite, aerial, and 3‑D data using only a text prompt. The technology, demonstrated by Digital Digging’s Henk van Ess, produced striking images that depict refugees near the Mexican border and a bomb crater near a hospital in Gaza. The images, created with Google’s Nano Banana tool, illustrate how easily AI can alter the visual record of real‑world locations.

In response to concerns about misinformation, Google emphasized that every image generated with Nano Banana carries a SynthID digital watermark. The company said users can verify the authenticity of an image by querying the Gemini app or using Google Lens in Search. Google also highlighted its "@verifyai" tag, which it plans to apply to AI‑generated content to help users distinguish between real and synthetic imagery.

The company’s statement underscores its commitment to transparency amid growing scrutiny of AI‑generated media. By embedding a watermark and offering verification tools, Google aims to mitigate the risk of misused satellite imagery while still providing powerful creative capabilities to its users.