Google Earth AI Tool

Google quickly retracted a new Earth feature after users showed it could create fake satellite images.

Mostly Center from 7 sources

3 left5 center0 right

Updated Jul 31, 5:36pm ET

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Google removed a Google Earth AI image-editing feature less than 24 hours after launching it on Thursday, after users showed it could produce fabricated scenes from real map imagery. The feature let Gemini’s Nano Banana 2 generate altered images from Google Earth’s satellite, aerial and 3D views using text prompts. Researchers created examples including fake disasters, refugees near the Mexican border and a bomb crater near a hospital in Gaza. Google said it paused the tool while adding stronger safeguards.

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Geospatial Deepfake RiskMostly Left

Adding AI image generation to Google Earth made it too easy to produce convincing fake satellite and 3D imagery. That capability threatened the credibility of Google Earth by letting realistic-looking geospatial deepfakes blur the line between real-world evidence and fabricated scenes.

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