OpenAI prepares text watermark in the EU
textGrain adds an invisible statistical signal to text; the API offers opt-in, while ChatGPT/Codex are to introduce it gradually in the European Union.
announced deployment and API opt-in
Facts, analysis and limits
Verified facts
- Opt-in global API for some models, disabled by default.
- Deployment of ChatGPT and Codex in the EU over the following weeks.
- Access to the detector initially reserved for approved researchers and expert bodies.
What changes
A concrete change in outputs for European users.
Practical implication
Avoid any disciplinary use based solely on a detector result.
Availability
Belgium affected by the future EU deployment; do not automatically extend to all EEAs.
Limits and uncertainty
The watermark does not prove the accuracy or the author; retouching and translation can weaken detection.