What happened
Google announced Friday that users can now remove the visible watermark from AI-generated content created with its Nano Banana, Omni, and Lyria models. The visible watermark toggle will be available in Gemini and the video editor Flow, with Search support coming soon; users can manage the setting via Settings > Media Watermark.
Why it matters
Visible watermarks on AI content can make it less useful for professional and creative work. However, Google is maintaining invisible SynthID watermarks and C2PA standard-related metadata, so AI-generated content can still be identified when checked—balancing creator control with the need to track AI-generated media.
What to watch
The feature is rolling out in the coming days. Google is also open sourcing a new library called Credentio, which lets developers embed local validation in their apps to verify whether content was AI-generated.
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Google's decision to make visible watermarks optional reflects a broader tension in AI policy: the need to label AI-generated content for transparency, versus the practical limitation that such labels can make content less useful for professional and creative purposes. Josh Woodward, Google's VP for Gemini, framed the change as balancing "creative control and safety," acknowledging that visible marks can hinder legitimate professional use. The company is not removing identification entirely—invisible SynthID watermarks and C2PA metadata will persist—which suggests Google is attempting to satisfy both regulatory and user concerns by shifting from visible to invisible verification methods. This comes shortly after Anthropic's high-profile inclusion of watermarks in Claude-generated text and files to comply with EU regulations, indicating the watermarking question is becoming a standard industry consideration.
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