Apple Prepares an iPhone Feature to Prove Whether Photos Are Original or AI-Generated
Technology-Portfolio.Net - Apple is reportedly preparing a new iPhone feature that could help prove the authenticity of a photo.
The feature, called Apple Reference Image, was found in the iOS 27 developer beta code, and is designed to show that an image was actually taken using an iPhone camera, rather than generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
Nevertheless, Apple Reference Image has not yet been confirmed to appear in the final version of iOS 27. Based on the code that was found, the feature is already mature enough to illustrate how it works.
However, users cannot immediately use it on every photo, because there are a number of requirements that must be met from the moment the image is captured.
To activate it, the user must first go to settings, then camera, and then find the reference image setting and enable reference mode.
After that, the photo must be taken using the new reference mode. The user can then choose to authenticate the image.
Additional Metadata
Photos taken through this mode will receive additional metadata. When the authentication process is carried out, that metadata will be sent to Apple. The company then assigns a special identity or individual ID to the image.
When an authenticated photo is shared via AirDrop or messages, the recipient can check whether the image has undergone the authentication process.
Apple is also said to be preparing a transfer with provenance option. This feature allows authenticated images to retain their ID when transferred via a USB cable to another device. With this mechanism, information about the photo's origin can remain attached even when the file is moved between devices.
Meanwhile, because it requires a special image-capture mode in the camera app, Apple Reference Image is expected not yet to be usable by third-party camera apps.