Check for unrealistic details
AI often struggles with small features like distorted ears, extra fingers, or mismatched earrings. Zoom in closely and look for subtle inconsistencies, which often reveal the image is machine-made.
Look at hands and fingers
Hands are notoriously tricky for AI. If fingers are fused, oddly bent, or too many/too few appear, chances are the image was generated rather than photographed.
Analyse background consistency
AI may blur or warp backgrounds like street signs, bookshelves, or text, which often appear nonsensical. If the setting looks ‘off’ or objects melt together, it’s likely synthetic.
Focus on symmetry issues
Faces may appear too perfect or uneven. AI sometimes makes one eye larger, eyebrows mismatched, or smiles unnaturally wide. Real humans have natural asymmetry, which AI often overcorrects.
Spot odd lighting and shadows
If lighting doesn’t match across the image, like shadows falling in the wrong direction, or reflections missing, it is a clear sign of an AI-generated image. This mismatch usually indicates AI generation rather than real photography.
Examine skin texture
AI may render skin overly smooth, waxy, or unnaturally flawless. On the flip side, it may produce patchy, surreal pores or blotches that don’t resemble human skin.
Watch for gibberish text
Signs, books, or clothing logos often contain jumbled, unreadable words in AI images. If text looks like nonsense or random symbols, it’s a clear giveaway of AI.
Spot clothing inconsistencies
Clothing in AI images may merge into the background or contain surreal folds and patterns. Buttons, zippers, or collars often appear mismatched or impossible in real life.
Zoom in on eyes and teeth
AI struggles with reflections. Pupils may be unevenly lit or catch lights duplicated. The teeth might blur together in unnatural ways, unlike the distinct separation in a real photo.
Use detection tools
Tools like Hugging Face detectors, AI-or-not, or reverse image search can confirm suspicions. They analyse pixel anomalies or compare against known AI databases to verify authenticity.