Story perspectives

Google pulls AI satellite tool after fabricated Kharg, Capitol images

7/31/2026

Summary

Story summary

Google removed the AI-generated satellite-image tool from Google Earth a day after launch, citing policy violations.
Manager Bryan Horowitz said users could zoom, tap “create image,” and type scene.
Researcher Henk van Ess produced fabricated images of a burning Kharg Island and a flooded U.S. Capitol.
Washington Post investigator Evan Hill questioned Google’s internal red-team testing.
Google said AI images bear a SynthID watermark and that safeguards are being strengthened.

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Story summary

Google removed the AI-generated satellite-image tool from Google Earth a day after launch, citing policy violations.
Manager Bryan Horowitz said users could zoom, tap “create image,” and type scene.
Researcher Henk van Ess produced fabricated images of a burning Kharg Island and a flooded U.S. Capitol.
Washington Post investigator Evan Hill questioned Google’s internal red-team testing.
Google said AI images bear a SynthID watermark and that safeguards are being strengthened.