OpenAI to Watermark ChatGPT Outputs in EU to Meet AI Act

OpenAI announced it will automatically watermark text generated by ChatGPT in the European Union, while the feature will remain off by default outside the EU. The change follows the EU AI Act, which took effect in August and requires AI‑produced content to be marked in a way that can be detected by a tool. OpenAI’s watermarking system, called textGrain, embeds subtle patterns in word choices that do not alter the output’s quality but can be identified by a specialized detector. The company will provide detector access to a limited set of researchers and organizations, with a request‑for‑approval process for broader use.