Backstory

What it does

Backstory takes an image plus a written prompt and investigates whether the image was AI-generated, when and where it has appeared online, and whether it has been digitally altered. It also draws on metadata to help answer the user's question. Its output is a conversational answer to the prompt, a description of how the image has been used and how its story may have changed over time, and an easy-to-read report of its findings.

People use it to check the context of images they encounter online rather than just to detect AI generation. The source stresses that determining whether an image is AI-generated is not the same as judging whether it is trustworthy, since an image may be authentic yet altered or shown out of context. What distinguishes the tool is that it combines detection technologies with an assessment of how the image has circulated and what metadata it carries, built on Gemini.

Backstory suits people who need to assess online imagery, such as information practitioners and content creators, and the source describes it as being tested with trusted testers including those groups. It is described as experimental, and the source does not confirm general public access, pricing, or platform support. Its detection is one input to trustworthiness, so its findings should be weighed alongside broader context rather than treated as a final verdict.

What it can do

• Assesses whether an image was AI-generated using detection technologies
• Shows when and where an image has previously been used online
• Checks whether an image has been digitally altered
• Uses image metadata to help answer a user's written prompt
• Responds to follow-up prompts about an image
• Generates easy-to-read reports of its findings

Example workflows

Checking an image encountered online

Input: an image and a written prompt such as asking where the image came from. Steps: the tool investigates AI generation, prior online use, digital alteration, and metadata. Output: a conversational answer, a description of how the image has been used and changed over time, and an easy-to-read report.

Following up on an image's history

Input: an image already analyzed and a further prompt. Steps: the user asks follow-up questions and the tool responds. Output: additional information about the image's use and story over time.

Before you choose

• Detecting AI generation does not establish trustworthiness; an image may be authentic but altered or taken out of context.
• The tool is experimental and is being refined through feedback from trusted testers.
• The source does not confirm pricing, platform support, or general public availability.

Listed under

• Data
• Research
• AI detection
• Experimental
• Fact checking
• Image verification
• Journalism
• Misinformation

Get started

The source offers a 'Register interest in Backstory' option; the tool is described as experimental.

1. Open the 'Explore Backstory' link from the source page to find the tool.
2. If access is not available, use 'Register interest in Backstory' to express interest.
3. Provide an image and a written prompt describing what you want to know about it.

Register interest through Google’s Backstory page. Access is experimental; availability and any future commercial terms may change.

Backstory has a waitlist and no public prices yet. See their pricing page ↗

Sources for this overview

Product pages, documentation, and pricing checked 28 Oct 2026. Each source supports part of the overview; availability and prices can change.

• Exploring the context of online images with Backstory — Google DeepMind ↗deepmind.google

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Last checked 28 Oct 2026. Every field keeps its source and date; unknown means we couldn’t confirm it.