News

MIT’s “PhotoGuard” Protects Images From Unauthorized AI Edits

The technology invisibly alters select pixels to throw off algorithmic AI models.

Published

2 years ago

July 25, 2023

Nour Nasir

mit's photoguard protects images from unauthorized ai edits

MIT CSAIL

As AI continues to develop rapidly, chatbots are gaining the power to create and manipulate images, with Shutterstock and Adobe currently leading the way. Despite the obvious power of AI algorithms, the technology has a few pitfalls, one of which is the unauthorized manipulation of copyrighted artwork and images.

MIT CSAIL thinks it has the answer to this growing problem in the form of PhotoGuard, a new technique that alters select pixels in an image to disrupt AI’s ability to understand what the image is.

The altered pixels are known as “perturbations” and are invisible to the human eye but easily seen by AI bots as they scan the color and position of every pixel in an image. Any edits AI tries to make to a protected image will also apply to the fake pixels, resulting in an unrealistic or broken final image, thanks to PhotoGuard.

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“The encoder attack makes the model think that the input image is some other image,” explained MIT student and lead author of the paper, Hadi Salman. “Whereas the diffusion attack forces the diffusion model to make edits towards some target image”. The technique sounds complex but could potentially stop malicious actors from reverse engineering protected images by adding minor edits to circumvent copyright.

“A collaborative approach involving model developers, social media platforms, and policymakers presents a robust defense against unauthorized image manipulation. Working on this pressing issue is of paramount importance today,” Salman said in a recent press release. “And while I am glad to contribute towards this solution, much work is needed to make this protection practical. Companies that develop these models need to invest in engineering robust immunizations against the possible threats posed by these AI tools”.

News

AltoVolo Opens Orders For Limited Edition Sigma eVTOLs

Early buyers can now reserve build slots for AltoVolo’s 500-mile hybrid aircraft through a new online configurator.

Published

6 days ago

November 1, 2025

Nour Nasir

AltoVolo

AltoVolo has started taking pre-orders for its first electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Sigma, moving the startup closer to commercial rollout. Customers can now secure a build slot with a £860 deposit and customize every detail online — from paintwork to seatbelt stitching. It’s the first configurator of its kind for a civilian eVTOL, mirroring how luxury car brands let clients tailor performance models before production.

The Sigma runs on a hybrid-electric tilting jet system built for long range and low noise. It can travel up to 500 miles at a 220-mph cruise, and is over 80% quieter than a helicopter. The three-seater weighs just 980kg and can maintain stable flight even if one jet fails. Safety systems include triple-redundant controls, thrust-vectoring stability and a ballistic parachute.

“We will be delivering an ultra-refined hybrid electric aircraft,” said founder and CEO Will Wood. “We believe there are thousands of customers for this type of cutting-edge technology”.

The first 100 units will come with exclusive materials and finishes. AltoVolo is also setting up a global service and maintenance network, with early planning for overhaul schedules already underway. The company’s focus on ownership experience echoes its ambition to anchor itself alongside established aviation brands rather than pure tech ventures.

To help new owners train, the company has built a full-scale simulator that replicates the Sigma cockpit in carbon fiber and leather. Pilots can log time toward a license using the system, aligned with the new US MOSAIC rules that ease certification for powered-lift aircraft. Certification work in Europe and the UK continues in parallel, signaling growing international alignment around light sport and eVTOL regulation.

Also Read: Snapchat Opens Qatar Office To Deepen Gulf Presence

Noise inside the cabin has become another design focus. Engineers are refining internal vibration levels and developing a responsive soundscape that shifts with each jet’s power load — part feedback, part theatre.

Urban air mobility projects across the Gulf and elsewhere are pushing regulators and manufacturers to meet in the middle. Dubai, Riyadh and Doha have each outlined plans for air taxi corridors this decade. AltoVolo’s hybrid Sigma, sitting between electric promise and aviation realism, looks built for that middle ground.