Google updates search to crack down on Deepfakes and Chrome to allow simple search by image

Google has announced a few updates to the way their search algorithm works, as well as updates to Google Chrome to bring “Circle to Search” like features to desktop users.

Cracking down on Fake Content in Google Search

If there’s one thing that’s concerning about the amazing advances in Image and Video generation using AI it’s the use of AI to create deepfake content.

A deepfake is an image or video that appears to be of a notable or recognisable person, but is in fact not real and was AI Generated.

This might be a video of a politician saying something that they simply never did, standing in a place they’ve never stood – the whole thing is just fake. Or it might be a photo of a person doing something that is in fact entirely fake, or a combination of two images using the face and form of a real person.

The most concerning aspect of this is the “explicit” deepfakes, ones that include depictions of individuals in a sexual context.

Google has introduced two major updates to combat this issue.

From a search perspective Google will prioritise things like news articles or other higher quality content when people explicitly search for this explicit content. Additionally, Google is attempting to more clearly differentiate between explicit content that is real and consensual – like scenes from a movie – from the fake content. How they do this is not entirely clear, but Google is also actively demoting in the search results sites that have had a high volume of reports about fake imagery.

To that extent, Google has also launched new easier ways to remove content.

Making content removal easier

Google has always had systems to allow people to request the removal of non-consensual and fake imagery under their search policies. They have now advanced those policies to ensure that when content is requested to be removed, they can also utilise their search power to filter all explicit results on similar searches about them, plus, scan and remove from search any duplicates of that image they find online.

“Circle to Search” comes to Desktop

When Samsung announced their Galaxy AI features in January one of the core features was “Circle to Search” – launched with Samsung, this is in fact a Google/Android feature which allows you to simply circle any item on screen and search for it.

That concept now comes to Google Chrome. Rolling out over the weeks ahead, this new icon in the Google Chrome searchbar means you can click on any image you see on the screen and search for it.

Update that search for colour, or even ask questions about that item. It’s harnessing the power of Google’s “knowledge” with both the images and information.

Pretty cool.

They’ve also added a compare feature for those who have multiple tabs of competing products open. Google can create a comparison table of those items in an instant.

We’d be a bit concerned about the accuracy of the comparison, having tried similar comparisons with our own eyes, it’s sometimes hard to find that specific data and the localised version of it – so take caution there.