TIME has named Google SynthID one of the Best Inventions of 2026.

Time magazine has added Google's SynthID to its annual list of Best Inventions for the year 2026. With the rise of generative AI, discerning the authenticity of digital media is becoming increasingly important for navigating the internet with assurance. SynthID achieves this by embedding an imperceptible, permanent digital watermark into AI-created images, audio, video, and text at the moment of generation, while maintaining the original quality.

So far, SynthID has watermarked over 180 billion images and videos, as well as 240,000 years' worth of audio. Recently, Google has expanded SynthID's watermarking capabilities to synthetic biology through SynthID Bio. To assist individuals in identifying AI-generated content, verification tools have been integrated into Google Search, the Gemini app, and Chrome.

Additionally, a SynthID Detector tool is available for checking content from Google and its partners. These resources collectively provide users with greater transparency and context surrounding the online content they encounter. For further information on this and other groundbreaking inventions, readers can explore Time's website.