Google Earth withdraws AI tool after users fake natural disasters

Google removed its Earth AI tool on July 31, one day after launch, after users generated fake disaster images such as a destroyed Eiffel Tower and a flooded Washington D.C. The company stated it is rolling back the feature to implement stronger guardrails, while noting the images were watermarked as AI-generated and did not appear in the main Google Earth experience.

Google has removed its new Earth AI tool after it allowed users to create fake images on top of satellite imagery. Google unveiled a tool on July 30 that allowed users to generate customized images using Google Earth’s aerial, satellite and 3D imagery. The company billed it as a tool capable of serving a range of purposes, including strengthening real estate pitches, and helping students visualize places in history. However, Google have removed the feature just a day after it was launched. Experts warned about the risks of tampering with satellite imagery Various publications revealed that the AI rejected none of the prompts given to it. The BBC shared images https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9349yx2ydvo that depicted the Eiffel Tower destroyed and the Great Pyramids of Giza engulfed by a sinkhole. This was echoed by an open-source researcher speaking to NPR https://www.npr.org/2026/07/31/nx-s1-5914652/google-adds-ai-to-satellite-images-raising-fears-of-deepfakes-in-the-sky . The publication shared AI-generated images of a wildfire raging in Iran and a flood in Washington D.C. Google released a statement https://x.com/NewsFromGoogle/status/2083249962150760610 on July 31 discussing the removal of the feature. “We’ve seen geospatial professionals using this feature for a range of useful purposes, however we’ve also seen people sharing screenshots of generated imagery that appear to violate our policies. So we’re rolling back this feature in Google Earth while we work on implementing stronger guardrails.” Google’s statement did claim, however, that the AI-generated images did not appear in the main Google Earth experience, and that the images were also watermarked as being created with AI. For more on technology, check out our coverage of Google’s plan to release 32 million mosquitoes https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/google-seeking-approval-to-release-32-million-mosquitoes-in-the-us-to-fight-disease-3369882/ , or the Claude AI chats appearing in Google Search revealing users’ bizarre requests https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/claude-ai-chats-appear-in-google-search-results-and-reveal-users-bizarre-requests-3391780/ .