How to spot an AI-generated image: Tips, tricks and pro tools

In a world where AI is spreading faster than rumors at a family barbeque, sussing out authentic images from digital imposters has become trickier than ever. First, we battled Photoshop, and now we can’t even trust if the person we’re looking at is real!

But fear not, for I’m here to guide you through this pixelated wilderness. I’ll walk you through the most common telltale signs an image is AI-generated. 

Metadata 

Before we get suspicious about everything, let’s talk metadata. In a nutshell, it’s the info that clings to a picture, covering who snapped it and how they did it (call it a human touch)!

But hold on. Does the absence of metadata always mean an image wasn’t created by a real person? Well, not exactly. You can still remove the data before uploading the file to the web. 

But (and a big but), having metadata does increase the likelihood that an image is authentic. So, watch for those details the next time you download an image! 

I mean, what are the chances of an AI-generated image having a “camera model” or “exposure time” tied to it? Highly unlikely.

Here’s how to check metadata on Mac: 

• Download the image.
• Right-click the image.
• Select Get Info.

Here’s how to check metadata on Windows: 

• Download the image.
• Right-click the image.
• Select Properties.
• Navigate to the Details tab.

Signs that should make you say “Hmmm”

Perfect symmetry: AI takes symmetry to a whole new level. You’ll know it when you see it because everything looks unnaturally balanced — to the point that you could fold an image in half and it would be perfectly mirrored on both sides. Landscape photos and close-up shots are prime candidates.

Distortion: There’s usually a little wonkiness or distortion hiding in an AI image. Look at the faces in a crowd; chances are you’ll find someone who looks like they went for a swim in an oil painting.

Unusual proportions: Objects might seem too big or small, like cars towering as tall as homes or doorways so tiny that you wonder how anyone could squeeze through.

Shadows and light: Real-world photos play nice with the laws of physics, but AI? Not so much. Shadows tend to go in all directions.

Unnatural textures: AI has a way of making textures appear suspiciously flawless (and we’re not talking about your skin with that Instagram filter). Images appear too smooth, with no natural textures or color variations. On the flip side, it can have the opposite effect. Hyper-realistic portraits with magnifying-worthy wrinkles, pores and blemishes are a thing.

Watermarks: Most free AI image generators stick watermarks onto their creations. You’ll usually find them in the bottom right corner, in the form of a logo or text pointing to the site or app.

Weirdness: While AI continues to improve, there’s still a trace of the bizarre. Look for oddities like strangely shaped features, too many fingers or accessories that don’t match. It’s always the small things!

Tools you can use 

If you’re still feeling a bit iffy about an image’s origin, I thought I’d leave you with a few AI detection tools that caught my eye. They’re also free. Score.

• AI or Not: Simply drag and drop, upload or paste an image URL into the search bar, and AI or Not will tell you if it’s legit.
• Hugging face: Pretty much the same as AI or Not, but it will give you the AI verdict in percentages (like 20% human and 80% artificial).

Oh, and don’t forget about our old friend, reverse image search. If Google returns with the same image from credible sources, chances are it’s real. But if it points you to an AI site, you might want to raise an eyebrow. Here’s how to check on iPhone and Android.