If an image is later altered, the system allows users to view the "digital negative" original to compare the differences between the authentic moment and the edited version.
This technology serves as Apple’s primary defense against the increasing prevalence of synthetic, AI-generated imagery by providing a way to prove a photo's reality.
By establishing a clear record of the original image, the feature provides concrete evidence of authenticity for viewers and creators.
This infrastructure is designed to maintain trust in digital photography as AI editing tools become more sophisticated and harder to detect with the naked eye.
The authentication process relies on Apple Private Cloud Compute to process image details and generate the necessary security signatures.
Users can share these signed images and their accompanying signatures with others to maintain verification across different devices.
However, the company noted that Reference Image will not be available to users in the European Union or China.
Photos created or modified using Apple’s own generative AI tools, such as Image Playgrounds, will instead be marked with SynthID identifiers to distinguish them from unedited captures.