Industry Odisha Bureau, August 03: Google has rolled back its new AI image generation feature in Google Earth in less than 24 hours of launch. This came after researchers and open source intelligence (OSNIT) experts came with a warning. It said that the integration could be used to create convincing fake satellite images and fuel misinformation.
The feature, called “Create Image,” was introduced on Thursday. It allowed users to generate AI-created visuals using Google’s Nano Banana 2 model. This was alongside Google Earth’s satellite, aerial and 3D imagery. Google had promoted the tool for educational purposes, historical visualisations and real estate planning.
However, the rollout got immediate criticism from digital investigators and misinformation researchers. They argued that the feature could undermine trust in Google Earth, a platform widely relied upon for fact-checking and geospatial verification.
Responding to the backlash, Google said it had decided to remove the feature temporarily while it works on stronger safeguards.
A google spokesperson said, “We have seen geospatial professionals using this feature for a range of useful purposes. However, we have also seen people sharing screenshots of generated imagery that appear to violate our policies.” He also added that the company is implementing stronger quadrails before considering a broader rollout.
Although Google said AI-generated images carried invisible SynthID digital watermarks, experts argued that the markers alone would not prevent misuse or stop misinformation from circulating.
Open-source intelligence groups also criticised the feature. They warned that manipulated satellite imagery could complicate the work of journalists, investigators and researchers who depend on authentic geospatial data.
