(registered 2026-07-13, last updated 2026-07-13)

Media type name: image

Media subtype name: prs.aimg

Required parameters: N/A

Optional parameters: encoding: specifies the underlying transport encoding (e.g., "png")
version: specifies AIMG format version (e.g., "1")

Encoding considerations: binary

Security considerations: This media type does not contain executable or active content.

The format is a container for binary media data (e.g., PNG) and associated AI provenance metadata. Implementations must treat all embedded data as untrusted input and avoid executing any content.

Integrity is a core feature of the format. AIMG includes a cryptographic hash of the payload and metadata, allowing detection of tampering. Future versions may include digital signatures for origin verification.

Privacy considerations apply as metadata may include information such as model name, generation timestamp, or prompt-derived hashes. Applications should avoid embedding sensitive data or should encrypt metadata externally when necessary.

If the container embeds existing formats such as PNG, the security considerations of those formats also apply.

Transport-level security (e.g., TLS) is recommended when transmitting AIMG files.

Interoperability considerations: AIMG is designed to be backward compatible with existing image systems by embedding its metadata within standard formats such as PNG during early deployment.

Systems that do not recognize AIMG metadata will continue to render the underlying image normally.

Interoperability depends on correct parsing of embedded metadata chunks and adherence to the AIMG specification.

Published specification: https://github.com/aimediaformat/media-engine/blob/main/spec/ai-media-format.md

Applications which use this media: AI content generation platforms, media verification tools, digital forensics systems, and content authenticity pipelines.

The format is intended for use in identifying, verifying, and auditing AI-generated media.

Fragment identifier considerations: N/A

Restrictions on usage: None

Additional information:

1. Deprecated alias names for this type: AIMG
2. Magic number(s): 41 49 4D 47 ("AIMG")
3. File extension(s): .aimg
4. Macintosh file type code: N/A
5. Object Identifiers: N/A

Person to contact for further information:

1. Name: Ai Media Format
2. Email: aimediaformat&gmail.com

Intended usage: COMMON

AIMG is part of a broader AI media format family including AAUD (audio) and AVID (video), which follow similar design principles.

Author/Change controller: Ai Media Format
Open-source community (future evolution)