Meta's AI image detector fails after cropping

Meta's new AI image detection tool has clear limits. Reuters tests show it struggles to spot cropped AI images. Some pictures made by Meta's Muse Image model went undetected after cropping.

Reuters tested 40 images from Muse Image. The tool found all original pictures. But after cropping them to half or one-third size, 55% failed the test. Meta said the tool could still find AI content after cropping, but the test shows otherwise.

Muse Image adds a hidden watermark called Content Seal to each picture. Meta said the tool is still a preview version. Content Seal aims to keep the watermark signal after common edits, but heavy cropping may lose it.