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The watermark disappears in the blink of an eye! When Google's AI does what it shouldn't.
- Kattiya Jantas
- Mar 18
- 2 min read
Gemini 2.0 Flash and the Online Controversy
Recently, Google launched a new AI model called Gemini 2.0 Flash, which has the ability to generate and edit images. However, this feature has sparked heated debates online, particularly regarding its ability to remove watermarks from images—even from sources like Getty Images and other major stock photo libraries.
How Does Gemini 2.0 Flash Remove Watermarks?
Gemini 2.0 Flash can intelligently remove watermarks from images and seamlessly fill in the gaps left behind. While some AI tools have had similar capabilities, what sets Gemini 2.0 Flash apart is its high accuracy and free availability, raising concerns in copyright circles.
Limitations and Legal Issues
Although this feature is still in the "experimental" phase and "not intended for real-world use," it is accessible through developer tools like AI Studio. The AI also struggles with semi-transparent or complex-pattern watermarks, but its ability to remove simpler watermarks so effortlessly has serious implications for copyright holders.
Under U.S. copyright law, removing a watermark without authorization is illegal unless it falls under specific exemptions. Other AI models, such as Claude 3.7 Sonnet by Anthropic and GPT-4o by OpenAI, explicitly refuse watermark removal requests. Claude even states that such actions are "unethical and potentially illegal."
Google's Response
Google has issued a statement saying, "Using Google’s Generative AI to violate copyright is a breach of our terms of service." The company also assured that it is closely monitoring the situation and listening to feedback from developers.
A Powerful Technology That Must Be Used Ethically
While Gemini 2.0 Flash demonstrates impressive image editing capabilities, the lack of clear restrictions opens the door to misuse, raising concerns about copyright and legality. The development of AI must be accompanied by ethical guidelines and preventive measures to maximize its benefits without infringing on others' rights.
Sources: TechCrunch, Google Blog
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