A signal inside the media
Google describes SynthID as an imperceptible watermark embedded into generated images and other media. Its intended durability differs from an ordinary software field or PNG text chunk that an export can simply omit.
Use the compatible verifier
Google’s supported path can check whether compatible Google AI content carries SynthID. Availability and supported products can change, so follow the current instructions in the official SynthID overview.
Why metadata still matters
A file can independently carry C2PA Content Credentials, XMP, generator names, or export history. Those layers can provide useful evidence even though none of them substitutes for the proprietary detector. Conversely, removing ordinary metadata does not establish that a pixel-level signal disappeared.
Interpreting “not found”
A negative local metadata result says only that supported readable evidence was absent. A negative official result should be interpreted according to the provider’s documented coverage, supported model versions, editing tolerance, and confidence language.