The advent and popularity of generative AI keep users in a constant state of uncertainty as they usually cannot tell whether the content is generated by AI or not. This is because some of this content is so close to perfect that you can hardly differentiate it from reality. Despite revolutionizing the information age, it has raised technical, social, and ethical concerns. The misuse of AI to deceive, manipulate, and extort has also led to significant economic implications. How, then, can you identify AI-generated content?
AI-generated video
To determine if a video is created by AI, closely observe all phenomena, whether they’re main actions or background events. Gauge your feelings while looking, as the uncanny valley phenomenon can cause discomfort for humans.

Trust your gut and if something seems off, take it as a sign that the video deserves further scrutiny. In Sora’s world, interactions do not always yield correct changes in object state, so tracking reactions, especially on solid objects, is crucial. Paying attention to a video created by AI can lead to inconsistencies, such as glaring or tugging at the corners of your thoughts. If you notice something off, note where you start to sense it and rewatch it closely.
AI-generated audio
Generative AI is improving synthetic audio, but concerns about its potential for harmful usage are raised. Deepfake audio, linked to voice cloning, telemarketing scams, and campaign misinformation, is detected using acoustic signals, metadata, and machine learning algorithms. Researchers are working on algorithms to detect deepfake sounds, but there are still ways to distinguish between real and fake voices. Deepfake AI voices are created by training a natural language processing model on sample recordings of an actual person’s speech. Recording clean and crisp audio is easier than ever, even from a phone. Atypical background noise, especially if the speaker is a famous creator or celebrity, is another clue. AI voices can struggle with unusual or unique words, such as slurred speech or mispronounced words.
AI-generated texts
AI-generated text can be identified by inconsistencies and repetition, suggesting AI struggles to maintain coherent ideas, while repeated phrases or sentence structures suggest reliance on memorized patterns. Texts lacking context or nuance may be AI, as these models lack real-world understanding. Uniqueness and personalization are hallmarks of human writing, so basic and formulaic texts might be AI-generated.

Excessive use of buzzwords and jargon can indicate AI filling gaps in knowledge with generic vocabulary, especially in marketing and complex contexts. Perfect grammar is crucial, as even the best writers may make mistakes or break grammatical rules. Quick responses, especially in customer service platforms, can be a sign of AI. Some AI text generation models use placeholder text to fill gaps, while the appearance of placeholders in text outside the model can indicate automated content.
AI-generated images
AI-generated images often display inconsistencies, such as extra fingers or too many teeth, unnatural skin tones, and smooth textures. These images often exhibit visual biases and stereotypes.

Additionally, AI-generated images often exhibit subtle distortions or anomalies, such as mismatched earrings, warped backgrounds, and nonsensical text. It’s crucial to look for unusual patterns, unrealistic lighting, or strange items within the image. To trace the origin of an AI-generated image, conduct a reverse image search and verify its authenticity through credible sources. AI-generated images can create convincing narratives, so it’s essential to verify the authenticity of the event depicted through credible sources.