AI Glossary Term
What does “Watermarking” mean?
Definition
Embedding a detectable signal in AI-generated text or media so it can later be identified as machine-produced.
How Watermarking works
Example
A text watermark slightly favors certain words in a hidden pattern as the model writes. A detector that knows the pattern can later estimate whether a passage is likely to have come from that model.
Why it matters
Watermarks could help identify AI-generated media. They can be weakened by editing or paraphrasing and only work if the provider adds them.
Common questions
Can watermarks be removed?
Often, by heavy rewriting or translating, which reduces detectability.
Are they visible?
Text and image watermarks are usually invisible to people but detectable by software.
Are AI detectors the same?
No. Detectors guess from style and are less reliable than a watermark added by the generator.