Apple is launching a new feature called Reference Image with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max later this month to prove a photograph was not manipulated by artificial intelligence. The system uses the device’s new camera sensor to sign every pixel it sees before the photo is captured. Once the image is taken in Reference mode, Apple’s Private Cloud Compute processes the signed sensor data into an unalterable reference file. Users can then view this original capture in the Photos app alongside any edited versions to verify if alterations were made. This approach aims to create a permanent record of the raw scene rather than relying on metadata that can be stripped or changed. The technology shifts the burden of proof from simple file headers to a physical record generated at the moment of exposure.
- Feature arrives with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
- Reference mode must be active to generate the proof file
- Private Cloud Compute creates the unalterable version
