Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is set to implement a groundbreaking initiative by introducing labeling for AI-generated images.

The American technology conglomerate plans to attach labels to any content containing indicators when shared on its Facebook, Instagram, and Threads platforms.

This move aims to notify users that these images, often resembling genuine photos, are actually digitally generated.

Nick Clegg, the company's President of Global Affairs, outlined this initiative in a blog post, emphasizing Meta's commitment to transparency. Additionally, Meta already labels content produced using its proprietary AI tools.

“Once the new system is up and running, Meta will do the same for images created on services run by OpenAI, Microsoft, Adobe, Midjourney, Shutterstock and Google,” Clegg said.

The declaration offers an initial preview of a nascent set of guidelines that technology firms are creating to address the possible risks linked with generative AI technologies.

These technologies can produce deceptive yet convincingly realistic content based on basic instructions.

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“Even though the technology is not yet fully mature, particularly when it comes to audio and video, the hope is that we can create a sense of momentum and incentive for the rest of the industry to follow,” Clegg said.

Meanwhile, he stated that Meta would begin mandating individuals to label any modified audio and video content they produce, with consequences for non-compliance. However, Clegg did not elaborate on the specific penalties.

He mentioned that there is currently no effective method available to mark written text produced by AI tools such as ChatGPT.

“That ship has sailed,” Clegg said.

A spokesperson from Meta chose not to specify whether the company intends to implement labels for generative AI content that is shared on its encrypted messaging platform, WhatsApp.

On Monday, Meta's independent oversight board criticized the company's approach to misleadingly altered videos, deeming it too restrictive and advocating for the labeling of such content instead of outright removal.

Clegg expressed general concurrence with these criticisms, acknowledging that the board was correct in its assessment of Meta's current policy “is just simply not fit for purpose in an environment where you’re going to have way more synthetic content and hybrid content than before.”