OpenAI seems to be getting ready to introduce watermarks on AI-generated photos in ChatGPT, primarily based on findings from an APK teardown of the app’s newest beta model (v1.2025.196). The function, presently in growth, might apply watermarks to all generated photos, notably for customers on the free tier. Nevertheless, indications recommend that paid customers might be given the choice to avoid wasting photos with out the watermark.
The APK teardown — a course of the place in-development app code is examined for unreleased options — revealed a string labeled “image-gen-watermark-for-free,” which suggests that watermarking could also be restricted to free accounts. This aligns with an earlier leak from April 2025, when a watermark function labeled “ImageGen” was first noticed by a consumer on X (previously Twitter).
Screenshots from the activated function shared by AndroidAuthority present the usual picture interplay choices — Edit, Choose, Save, and Share — together with a new possibility within the three-dot menu: “Save with out watermark.” Whereas this function was momentarily enabled even for a free-tier account throughout testing, it’s probably that entry can be restricted to subscribers as soon as the function is formally launched.
Picture by AndroidAuthority
There may be nonetheless some uncertainty about how the watermarking system can be carried out. One chance is that all customers will see watermarked photos by default, with solely paid customers in a position to take away the watermark. One other state of affairs might contain permitting all customers to avoid wasting unwatermarked photos, however by a extra sophisticated course of that daunts widespread informal use. This technique might assist OpenAI steadiness transparency and branding with consumer flexibility.
It’s necessary to notice that this watermarking function has not been formally introduced by OpenAI, and its inclusion within the closing launch isn’t assured. APK teardowns provide insights into options that builders are experimenting with, however they don’t affirm closing implementation.
OpenAI continues to experiment with a variety of recent options for ChatGPT, together with Examine Collectively modes, Picture Kinds, and subscription adjustments like a potential annual plan. The watermarking function provides to this checklist of in-progress enhancements, probably signaling a broader effort to handle the traceability and use of AI-generated content material.
Till OpenAI makes an official assertion, these findings stay speculative. Additional updates are anticipated as growth progresses.
Filed in . Learn extra about AI (Artificial Intelligence), ChatGPT and OpenAI.
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