Google rolled back its new AI image generation feature in Google Earth on July 31–August 1, 2026, after researchers and open-source intelligence experts raised concerns about potential misuse to create fake satellite imagery. Users had already begun sharing altered images.
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Google rolled back a new feature on Friday that allowed Google Earth users to generate AI visualisations on top of the service’s satellite imagery, following a furious backlash from researchers and open-source intelligence experts about the potential for disinformation. “We’ve seen geospatial professionals using this feature for a range of useful purposes, however we’ve also seen people sharing sc
Furious researchers and open-source intelligence experts complained about the potential for disinformation.
Alphabet Inc.’s Google announced Friday that it will roll back its new AI image generation feature in Google Earth because some people were using it to create altered satellite imagery that appeared to violate the company’s policies.
Google said Friday it rolled back a new Google Earth feature that let users generate AI visuals on top of satellite, aerial and 3D imagery after users shared screenshots that appeared to violate company policies [techxplore.com#1][bangkokpost.com#1][tribune.com.pk#1][indianexpress.com#1]. The tool integrated Google's Nano Banana 2 image-generation model into Google Earth and allowed users to zoom