How to Identify AI-Generated Fake Photos and Videos: 7 Simple Ways

How to Identify AI-Generated Fake Photos and Videos: 7 Simple Ways

How To Spot Fake AI Pictures

• Have you ever seen a picture online that seems too real but something about it seems a bit off? Or seen a video of a celebrity and been unsure if they actually said that or not?
• You aren’t alone! AI tools can create realistic pictures, videos and even mimic someone’s face or voice. Many can be fun to watch, some are being used to make fake news, impersonate individuals and trick people.
• While you don’t need to be a tech which to be more cautious, there are a few simple checks you can do to know if you can trust what you’re seeing.

Below are 7 ways to spot fake AI pictures.

1. Take a close look

An easy place to start with spotting fake AI is to take a close look at the image you’re looking to spot.

AI pictures may appear with odd details in complex areas. Check:

• Are the fingers natural or look odd?
• Is there inconsistency in the eyes, teeth and ears?
• Are there readable signs, labels and text?
• Do the buildings, furniture or other items look distorted?
• Or are there repeating patterns and do they look very similar?

For example, if you see a picture of someone holding a cup. The cup may look fine but the fingers could be blending into the handle.

While these can be great hints, modern AI tools are getting better. Just because it looks realistic doesn’t mean it is real. And just because there is one odd detail doesn’t mean it was created using AI.

2. Check the lighting

Another thing you can look out for with fake AI images is the lighting.

Real images should show consistent lighting. The shadows and reflections should match up.

Look out for:

• Odd shadows – for example someone with a shadow going the wrong way.
• Reflections that don’t match up.
• A bright face but dark in the background.
• Floating items.

For example if you’re looking at a picture of someone outside on a sunny day. If they have a shadow to the left but the items around have shadows to the right then you may need to double check.

Professional editing, odd lighting and camera effects can cause images to look odd. So keep this in mind.

3. Watch videos more than once

AI videos and deepfakes can be tricky to spot, especially if you’re watching them on your phone quickly.

If you feel like something seems odd, watch the video again to check for odd movements.

Check:

• Are their lips moving appropriately for what they are saying?
• Are their facial features changing suddenly?
• Are their eyes, teeth and ears looking different?
• Are their head movements natural?
• Is there anything odd with the background?
• You can pause the video or watch it slowly to take a closer look.
• Listen carefully. Sometimes they may have a robotic voice or the audio doesn’t match up.
• Don’t rely on blinking, lip movements or anything like this. Real videos can look odd due to poor quality, editing and compression.

4. Check where the image/video is from

This is one of the most useful checks to do.

Ask yourself:

• Who posted this originally?
• Is their account/website trustworthy?
• Does it have a date and location?
• Is there a link to the original event?
• Are trustworthy news outlets also reporting this?

For example if you get a message on WhatsApp saying that a big event has happened in your area. They have a dramatic picture but no reliable source.

Don’t share straight away. Search for the event on trustworthy news sites or official organisation pages.

Even if it’s a real picture, it may be misleading if it’s an old picture or from a different location. So checking the original context is as important as checking if it was created using AI.

5. Reverse image search

You can use reverse image search to find out where the image has been online.

This means you don’t have to type in anything. You can upload an image or select an image to find similar ones.

Google Lens is an easy option to try.

To use:

1. Go to Google Images or Google Lens.
2. Pick which image you want to check.
3. Upload or select the image.
4. Look at the similar images and sites.
5. Find out if there are older versions of the image. Check the date and context.

For example if you see an image today it could be an old image from another country. Using reverse image search can help you find the older image.

You can also try TinEye.

Just because you can find the image online doesn’t mean it’s real. This will help you find out the history of the image.

6. Check if there is AI information

• Some AI created images and videos will have information to help you understand how they were created.
• This can include the Content Credentials technology which can show you details about an item, including who created it and any edits.
• This can help you understand if any AI tools were used to create or edit.
• Sometimes platforms and tools will have AI information or tags.
• You can find out more about Content Credentials here.
• Not all images will have this information. Some may also lose it when they’ve been cropped, edited, changed or shared across certain platforms.
• This means that just because there isn’t an AI tag doesn’t mean it’s real.

7. Be cautious with AI detection sites

You may come across sites that say they can detect fake AI images.

Some tools can analyse the uploaded file to give you an indication or look for certain signals. These can be helpful.

• However you shouldn’t rely on these tools.
• They may not pick up on AI created items. Or they may flag up real images. Different tools can give you different results depending on if the image has been edited or compressed.
• If you decide to use this tool:
• Read what they’re actually looking for.
• Don’t rely on this as proof.
• Don’t upload any personal or sensitive images to unknown sites.
• Compare to other evidence.
• If the content has been created/ exported using OpenAI tools you can find out more about their content verification here.
• This is only a hint. Always check the source, context and other evidence.

What should I do if I find a suspicious image?

If you’re unsure if something is real:

• Don’t share it yet.
• Check the source of the image. Who posted it originally?
• Check if there are any other reports. Are they being reported by reliable sources?
• Use reverse image search to find older versions.
• Check for any inconsistencies.
• Don’t rush into anything. Never send any money or personal information based on a video or voice message.
• If it seems like a family member, friend or colleague are asking for money in a video, contact them on a separate trusted phone number.

Final Thoughts

• Fake AI images and videos are becoming very realistic to spot. Even experienced viewers can be tricked.
• Try not to rely on one detail or site to detect AI. Always check the source, look for inconsistencies, use reverse image search and compare to reliable information.
• Most importantly take your time.
• Taking a few minutes to check can help you avoid spreading misinformation. You’ll also keep yourself and others safe from online scams.

Stay curious and check what you’re seeing. Think!