Google’s AI detector has helped flag a disputed Airbnb damage photo. An Australian Airbnb host is accused of submitting an AI-doctored image of an overflowing toilet to support a payment demand against a French tourist. According to an ABC News report, its check using Google’s SynthID Detector found that Google’s AI tools created or edited the photo.The image accompanied a $1,500 invoice to remove a foreign object from the toilet, along with a separate $255 cleaning invoice. The guest, identified only as Alban, challenged the demands after suspecting the photograph was fake. Airbnb said it investigated his complaint, rejected the host’s damage claim, and refunded him. The detector’s finding established AI involvement in the image, but it did not independently prove every allegation in the dispute.How Google’s tool flagged the photographAlban initially posted the toilet image on social media to see whether others shared his suspicions. Encouraged by the responses, he tried an AI detector, which he said supported his concerns.ABC then tested the photograph using Google’s SynthID Detector. The result indicated that it had been created or edited using Google AI.The report also identified problems with the supporting invoices. Neither named company matched an existing business, the Australian Business Numbers were invalid, emails bounced and no corresponding businesses operated at the listed addresses.What led to the payment demand from the Airbnb hostAlban stayed at two Hobart properties managed by The A Family for two weeks across August and September.Following a disagreement about check-out, he left a one-star review. Two days after his departure, the host submitted a request for $1,755 through Airbnb’s resolution center.The host also accused Alban of bringing unapproved guests and leaving the toilet in a mess. He denied both allegations.In a message ABC reviewed, the host said he would not have made a claim without his “crazy retaliatory review”. The report said images, invoices, and communications supported Alban’s timeline.Airbnb rejected the claim and refunded the guest“We take reports like this seriously … the guest has been fully refunded and will not be charged,” an Airbnb Australia and New Zealand spokesman said.Alban said he received almost $2,000 covering both stays and tours he missed while dealing with the dispute.Before the matter was resolved, he brought his flight home to France forward by 10 days because he feared the demands could leave him without enough money to return.“They started making multiple hundred-dollar demands. I got very concerned that I eventually wouldn’t have enough money to go home,” he said.