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What are AI-generated images? -

AI images are imitations of images the program has seen before. It takes existing images found on the internet to create new images, which means the new images aren't exactly original!

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Verify the source -

So, how do you check if an image is AI-generated? First, check out the source of the information you've received.

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Is the source legit? -

Is the source a news organization, a government organization, or the verified account of a celebrity? Or is it just impersonating a legitimate organization or person?

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Turn on the news -

If the image seems to come from a big news story, check the actual news. If something major has happened in the world, chances are international news organizations would know about it first!

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Where to find breaking news -

You should be able to see and/or hear breaking news alerts on TV, radio, and news websites.

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Look at the image critically -

It’s also a good idea to look at the image critically. Doing so, you'll certainly see that it's an AI-generated image.

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They look unreal -

Although AI-generated images are usually quite convincing, there’s always a certain quality about the image that looks rather unreal.

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Watch for wonky fingers and teeth -

Since data sets that train AI systems tend to only capture pieces of hands, the tech often fails to create lifelike human hands, for instance.

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A major hallmark for AI images -

This can lead to images with stretchy wrists, spindly fingers, or too many digits. Keep an eye out for that.

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Be wary of overly smooth textures -

Some AI image generators produce textures that are excessively smooth, which look too perfect. Also, when it's an image of a human, the skin can come out looking like plastic with a glossy sheen.

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Look for details that don't fit -

Watch out for inconsistencies in the logic of the image itself. For example, clothing fabric that blends together across different subjects, or background patterns that repeat perfectly.

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Assess the overall scene -

Apart from the details, make sure you look at the big picture. First, check the lighting and the shadows, as AI often struggles with accurately representing these elements.

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AI and shadows -

For example, shadows should align with the light sources and match the shape of the objects casting them.

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Investigate text and labels -

If the image you're looking at contains texts, such as panels, labels, ads, or billboards, take a closer look at them. AI-generated text tend to look pixelated or stretched.

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Take a closer look at the text -

Also, if the text doesn't make sense, is out of context, or contains weird phrases that a human wouldn't write, the image you're looking at is likely AI-generated.

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Check the title and description -

Not everyone will disclose the use of AI when posting images, but for those who do, that information will either be in the title or description section of a post.

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Check the comments section -

Another good place to look is in the comments section, where the author might have mentioned it.

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Use an AI image detector -

When in doubt, always run the image through an AI image detector. Just save the image and pull up an AI image detector service.

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AI image detectors -

Free AI image detector services include Illuminarty, Optic AI or Not, and Everypixel Aesthetics.

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How to spot deepfake videos -

Creating a deepfake video has also become highly popular. So, how do you know if it's fake?

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Examine facial movements carefully -

A common warning sign is unnatural eye movements or a lack of eye movement, especially if there's no blinking.

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Lack of emotions -

Also, if a person's face doesn't show the appropriate emotion that aligns with what they're saying, it's likely a deepfake.

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Sound quality is a clue -

Creators of deepfakes typically focus more on visuals than on audio, so you might notice a difference in the sound or speech.

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When it sounds like deepfake -

Pay attention to poor lip synchronization, robotic sounds, strange word pronunciation, digital background noise, and even missing audio.

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Beware of nonsense words -

Nonsense words are common in deepfake creation, as they provide a tool for altering or substituting original speech.

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A dangerous mix -

By blending real and nonsense words, deepfake creators aim to produce convincing audio that imitates the speech patterns of the targeted individual. As a result, viewers may be tricked into believing that a person has said something they actually haven't.

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Examine the physical posture of the person in the video -

If a person turns their head or moves from one frame to another in a jerky way, or if their movements appear distorted or unnatural, be suspicious.

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Notice if a person's body shape doesn't look natural -

Deepfake technology tends to focus on facial features rather than the entire body, making this one of the simpler anomalies to detect.

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Always use your best judgment -

It's always important to use your best judgment when seeing a picture or video. Be critical and keep in mind it could be a deepfake, or actually an authentic image.

Sources: (Evening Standard) (Discover Magazine) (Android Police) 

See also: Demystifying AI: a beginner's guide to understanding artificial intelligence

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