Declare origin
Record that an asset was generated or edited by an AI-enabled workflow when the platform chooses to make that declaration.
AI media workflow
C2PA for AI image generators
AI image generators can attach signed Content Credentials so users and platforms can inspect declared provenance — without confusing C2PA with probabilistic AI detection.
Declared generationSigned provenanceVerifiable exportsResponsible claims
Why AI image generators need C2PA
AI-generated images can be realistic, easy to share and difficult to evaluate without context. Content Credentials provide a standard way to carry declared origin and processing information with the exported asset.
Preserve context
Carry available tool, action and ingredient information into the exported file instead of relying only on a caption or platform label.
Enable verification
Let downstream platforms, publishers and users check the manifest, signature, certificate context and integrity of the delivered asset.
Implementation
A provenance-aware generation workflow
The signing point should be part of the export pipeline, with declarations that accurately reflect what the system knows.
Declare, do not infer
C2PA records signed claims supplied by a tool or service. It does not independently discover whether an arbitrary image was generated by AI.
Create or edit the asset
The user generates an image, edits an existing ingredient or combines generated and human-created material.
Build accurate assertions
The platform records the generation or editing actions and only includes details it can support.
Sign the export
The final asset and its manifest are cryptographically bound using controlled signing material.
Verify before delivery
Check that the exported file contains the intended manifest and that signature and integrity validation succeed.
Preserve credentials downstream
Ensure subsequent resizing, conversion, CDN processing or platform distribution does not silently remove the provenance record.
Use consistent verification statuses
The result should describe the available C2PA evidence, not issue a verdict about the image itself.
Valid C2PA evidence plus a certificate chain recognized by the verifier's trust context.
The signature can validate even when the signer certificate is not publicly recognized.
C2PA data exists, but signature or content-integrity validation failed.
No C2PA manifest was detected. This is not proof that the image is authentic or synthetic.
Where the workflow adds value
Generation platforms
Attach provenance at export so a downloaded asset retains the platform's declared generation context.
AI-assisted editing
Describe declared edits and source ingredients when a workflow combines existing media with generative operations.
Publisher intake
Give editorial systems signed evidence they can inspect before using synthetic or AI-assisted media.
Model evaluation and demos
Use controlled test credentials to validate an integration before introducing production signing and trust policies.
What C2PA can communicate
- Declared generation and editing actions.
- Available source ingredients and tool information.
- Whether the file still matches the signed manifest.
- The signer certificate and verification context.
What it does not prove
- That every AI-generated image will contain credentials.
- That an unsigned image was generated by AI.
- That every declaration is complete or unbiased.
- That a technically valid signature is publicly trusted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is C2PA the same as AI detection?
No. AI detection estimates likely origin from patterns. C2PA verifies declared, signed provenance when credentials are present.
Should every generated image be marked?
A platform should define a clear disclosure policy and produce accurate assertions. C2PA supplies the technical container; governance determines when and how it is used.
What happens when an image is edited later?
A provenance-aware tool can create a new manifest that references prior ingredients and declares subsequent actions. Untracked byte changes may invalidate the earlier credential.
Can ProvSeal test an export workflow?
Yes. Teams can inspect manifests and validate test-signed outputs before planning controlled production signing and certificate management.
Add verifiable provenance to AI media exports.
Start with test workflows, inspect the resulting Content Credentials and design production signing around accurate declarations.