Several AI companies lack required California detection tools

New laws in California and the European Union took effect on Aug. 2 requiring Gen AI systems to embed detection tools in their outputs. California’s AI Transparency Act applies to AI providers with at least 1 million monthly users and requires a detector that can show whether content was created or modified by their AI.

Indicator and WITNESS tested 13 AI companies covered by the California law: Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Adobe, Grok, Midjourney, Mistral, HeyGen, Synthesia, ElevenLabs, Suno, and TikTok. Only seven had a dedicated detection tool available. Adobe, ElevenLabs, Google, Meta, TikTok, OpenAI, and Microsoft received credit for available tools, while Grok, Synthesia, Suno, HeyGen, Midjourney, and Mistral did not.

The testing covered 243 tests using 85 files across the available detectors. Most tools met the minimum standard for identifying their own unedited content, but performance weakened on edited files. Only Google and OpenAI correctly identified content from their platforms after tampering attempts. The California law, passed in 2025 as SB 942, carries a civil penalty of $5,000 per violation per day.