Here’s the problem with putting an AI image generator in Google Earth
Now a text prompt is all it takes to generate reality-warping images using Google Earth's satellite, aerial, and 3D imagery, like these images generated by Digital Digging's Henk van Ess that show "refugees near the Mexican border" and a bomb crater near a hospital in Gaza. Google responded to Digital Digging's AI-altered images, saying, "We take misinformation seriously - every image created with Nano Banana in Google Earth includes the SynthID digital watermark, so if someon
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Google has launched an AI image generator feature in Google Earth that creates realistic flyover images from text prompts using the platform's satellite, aerial, and 3D imagery. A researcher demonstrated the tool's misuse potential by generating false images depicting refugees at borders and bomb craters near hospitals. Google added a digital watermark to all AI-generated images and recommends users verify suspicious images through its Gemini app or by comparing them to other satellite platforms, though the watermark is not impossible to bypass. The concern is that while some generated images are obviously fake, others could be believable enough to spread misinformation despite these safeguards.
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