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

TIME has included Google SynthID in its annual Best Inventions list, highlighting its role in addressing challenges posed by increasingly realistic generative AI content. The technology embeds an invisible watermark into AI-generated images, audio, video, and text at the point of creation without compromising quality. This approach aims to provide users with a reliable way to identify and trust digital media they encounter online.

SynthID has already watermarked over 180 billion images and videos, as well as 240,000 years of audio, demonstrating its scale and adoption across diverse media formats. The technology’s durability ensures the watermark remains intact even after editing or compression, maintaining its utility for verification purposes.

Google recently expanded SynthID’s capabilities with SynthID Bio, applying the same watermarking principles to synthetic biology. This extension underscores the technology’s versatility beyond digital media, addressing new frontiers in AI-generated biological data.

Verification tools powered by SynthID are integrated into Google Search, the Gemini app, and Chrome, with additional access via the SynthID Detector for content from Google and partners. These tools collectively enhance transparency by allowing users to verify the authenticity of AI-generated content directly within familiar platforms.