The Japanese electronics company Sony has introduced a new feature that allows creators to own “digital birth certificates” for photographs captured with Sony cameras. The new feature mirrors the core concepts behind NFTs and their underlying blockchain technology.
The feature was announced at the ongoing Sony CES 2024 event in Las Vegas. Incorporated with the Sony camera’s hardware, the feature will entail the creation of a machine-based digital signature. Images and video captured with a Sony camera can now be uniquely tracked and verified using this new function.
The new functionality allows photojournalists and other creators to retain the authenticity of their content. It also helps to combat the rise in deep fakes, which involves using artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate images, videos, and audio to create fake and convincing outputs. Reiterating this fact, Sony Electronics’ president and COO, Neal Manowitz, said at the event:
“While the rapid evolution of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) brings new possibilities for creative expression, it has also led to growing concern about the impact of altered or manipulated imagery in journalism. The dissemination of false information and images has real-world social impact that brings harm not only to our photojournalist and news agency partners but to society as a whole.”
Sony added in its announcement that the new feature will roll out in a firmware update for its Alpha 9 III, Alpha 1, and Alpha 7S III camera models this year.
Admittedly, Sony did not explicitly liken its newly introduced feature to NFTs. Still, the functionality resembles that of an NFT, serving as digital proof of authenticity for an item.
Notwithstanding, Sony has previously shown its interest in NFTs by registering for a patent that enables gamers to transfer NFTs within the gaming verse. Time will tell if photojournalists and other users of the feature will somehow incorporate non-fungibility into the narrative.
