Сontent Credentials and labeling AI-generated Images from the client’s perspective

[Alvin Greis]

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I'm curious how the perception of a photo might change if it’s labeled as AI-edited. Not an AI-generated image, but a photograph enhanced using AI tools in Photoshop, for example.

If I remove dust spots on the lens using a standard tool, this action is recorded. But if I do it with an AI-powered tool, it gets labeled as “generated with AI-tool” or something like that in Verify (Conetnt Credentials). The same applies to retouching.

But would there be a difference, for instance, from the client’s perspective, if they were offered AI retouching instead of manual retouching (which is also somewhat subjective)? What do you think about it

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[pedaes]

3 minutes ago, Alvin Greis said:

What do you think about it

I think the concept of "Content Credentials'' is in its infancy and will evolve over time, and will no doubt answer the question you pose.

The AI tools are in many ways just shortcuts that could be made using a combination of the standard tools in the pp software - ie the Clone and Heal tools.

[Anbaric]

Depends who your client is. An advertising agency or a stock photo provider may not be bothered. A newspaper or press agency may have different standards, especially for any tool that uses generative AI. Here are the rules for World Press Photo, an influential competition that many leading photojournalists submit to every year, and which broadly reflects accepted journalistic standards:

https://www.worldpressphoto.org/contest/2024/verification-process/what-counts-as-manipulation

'All photographs entered into the Singles, Stories and Long-Term Projects categories must be made with a camera. No synthetic or artificially generated images are allowed, and no use of artificially generative fill is allowed. Any use of these tools will automatically disqualify the entry from the contest. However, the use of smart tools, or AI-powered enhancement tools is possible within the contest rules, as long as these tools do not lead to significant changes to the image as a whole, introduce new information to the image, nor remove information from the image that was captured by the camera. Some examples of tools where limited usage may be allowed are Denoise, automatic adjustments (e.g on levels, colors, contrast) and object selection for local adjustments. These are permitted up to a certain extent, which is to be determined by the contest organization and global jury. Tools that do immediately breach the contest rules are all AI-powered enlarging tools such as Adobe Super Resolution and Topaz Photo AI. These tools are based on generative AI models that introduce new information to enlarge and sharpen images.'

Something like this example of sharpening from the Topaz site would be a clear breach of these rules ('This is what makes Topaz Sharpen AI truly unique – it actually synthesizes convincing details even if the blurred image does not have any through the power of AI').

[pedaes]

5 minutes ago, Anbaric said:

nor remove information from the image

Genuine question (for interest as I will not be entering this competition), would that include removal of dust spots?

[Alvin Greis]

13 minutes ago, Anbaric said:

Depends who your client is. An advertising agency or a stock photo provider may not be bothered. A newspaper or press agency may have different standards, especially for any tool that uses generative AI. Here are the rules for World Press Photo, an influential competition that many leading photojournalists submit to every year, and which broadly reflects accepted journalistic standards:

https://www.worldpressphoto.org/contest/2024/verification-process/what-counts-as-manipulation

'All photographs entered into the Singles, Stories and Long-Term Projects categories must be made with a camera. No synthetic or artificially generated images are allowed, and no use of artificially generative fill is allowed. Any use of these tools will automatically disqualify the entry from the contest. However, the use of smart tools, or AI-powered enhancement tools is possible within the contest rules, as long as these tools do not lead to significant changes to the image as a whole, introduce new information to the image, nor remove information from the image that was captured by the camera. Some examples of tools where limited usage may be allowed are Denoise, automatic adjustments (e.g on levels, colors, contrast) and object selection for local adjustments. These are permitted up to a certain extent, which is to be determined by the contest organization and global jury. Tools that do immediately breach the contest rules are all AI-powered enlarging tools such as Adobe Super Resolution and Topaz Photo AI. These tools are based on generative AI models that introduce new information to enlarge and sharpen images.'

Something like this example of sharpening from the Topaz site would be a clear breach of these rules ('This is what makes Topaz Sharpen AI truly unique – it actually synthesizes convincing details even if the blurred image does not have any through the power of AI').

In short, removing something insignificant from my original photo is generally allowed, but adding something new is prohibited.

[Anbaric]

5 hours ago, pedaes said:

Genuine question (for interest as I will not be entering this competition), would that include removal of dust spots?

They have an explicit exemption for that, which is fair enough:

'The content of a photograph must not be altered by adding, rearranging, reversing, distorting or removing people and/or objects from within the frame. There are two exceptions:

    (i) Cropping that removes extraneous details is permitted;
    (ii) Removing sensor dust or scratches on scans of negatives is permitted.'

So you can't just erase that annoying elbow or piece of litter. Anything more significant than a scratch that can't simply be cropped out has to stay - 'truth within the frame'.