Google Gemini 2.0 can remove watermarks from photos

Google's new Gemini Flash 2.0 image editor can effectively remove watermarks from photos, raising concerns about copyright protection. This tool, recently launched, is designed for tasks like combining images and editing through conversational prompts. However, users have quickly noticed its capability to eliminate watermarks from proprietary images. Reports indicate that while the watermark removal is not flawless, it can still produce usable images without copyright labels. This situation has sparked criticism due to the potential misuse of AI tools. Google, like many other AI developers, has built its models on large datasets of copyrighted content, often without permission, prompting questions about fair use. Currently, the Gemini tools are only accessible to developers and labeled as experimental. There are ongoing discussions about the need for ethical guidelines when using AI in image editing. Some AI models, like ChatGPT, refuse requests to remove watermarks, and it’s likely Google will implement similar restrictions. While testing the Gemini tools, most requests for watermark removal were declined, emphasizing adherence to copyright laws. However, the tool can still generate variations based on original images, often leading to results that are somewhat similar but not exact. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between the advancement of AI technology and the need for copyright protection, raising critical debates about the future roles of both AI and human creators.