Apple has introduced Apple Reference Image, a feature designed to help users verify whether photos taken on the iPhone 18 Pro are authentic, amid concerns about AI-generated or edited imagery.
Announced on Wednesday during Apple's Surprise and Shine event, the feature works by capturing signed sensor data when a photo is taken. Apple's Private Cloud Compute service then converts this data into an unalterable reference image, viewable in the Photos app. This reference image can be compared with other versions of the photo to detect any changes, with Apple likening it to a digital negative.
Apple said the feature is vital for photojournalists and photographers. Initially, reference images will only be viewable in the Photos app, but Apple is making APIs available to developers so they can integrate the feature into their own applications.
Apple also announced support for the SynthID standard, which helps people determine whether images were created or altered with AI.