Apple is reportedly developing an 'Apple Reference Image' feature in iOS that embeds provenance metadata into iPhone photos at the moment of capture, enabling users to verify authenticity and prove images aren't AI-generated deepfakes. The feature was discovered in iOS 27 beta 5 code but remains disabled and would be turned off by default when activated.
Background
Growing concerns over AI-generated imagery and deepfakes have prompted tech companies to explore provenance verification methods for authentic photos.
- Source
- The Verge
- Published
- Aug 12, 2026 at 12:19 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10