How to Tell if Something Was Created by AI

26 Feb How to Tell if Something Was Created by AI

Artificial intelligence is everywhere—from product descriptions and social media captions to student essays and even digital art. While AI tools can be incredibly helpful, they also raise questions about originality, trust, and authenticity. Knowing how to tell if something was generated by AI can help you make better judgments about the content you read, share, or even purchase.

1. Look for Writing Style Clues

AI writing tools often produce text that feels too polished or oddly generic. Common signs include:

• Repetition of phrases or ideas.
• Sentences that are grammatically perfect but lack depth or nuance.
• Overuse of transition words like additionally, furthermore, moreover.
• A lack of personal anecdotes or specific details.
• If the writing feels like it could apply to almost anything, it may have come from AI.

2. Check for Factual Accuracy

AI doesn’t always get facts right. Sometimes, it will invent details (a phenomenon called “hallucination”). Red flags include:

• Outdated or incorrect statistics.
• Quotes or sources that can’t be verified.
• Made-up names, dates, or references.
• Cross-checking a suspicious claim with a quick web search can reveal whether the text was human-researched or AI-fabricated.

3. Analyse the Tone and Voice

Humans usually write with some quirks, emotions, or inconsistencies. AI tends to be:

• Neutral or overly formal in tone.
• Consistent in word choice, sometimes to the point of sounding robotic.
• Lacking in humoir, sarcasm, or personality unless heavily edited.
• If something reads smoothly but feels impersonal, AI may have been involved.

4. Use AI Detection Tools

Several online tools can help analyse whether text is AI-generated. They look at patterns like sentence structure, word choice, and probability. Popular options include:

• GPTZero
• Originality.ai
• Turnitin (this one is used in schools and across education in general)

Keep in mind that detection isn’t always 100% accurate—especially as AI improves.

5. Spotting AI in Images

AI isn’t just for text—it creates images too. Signs an image might be AI-generated include:

• Hands or eyes that look distorted.
• Strange textures, mismatched shadows, or inconsistent lighting.
• Background objects that don’t make sense on closer inspection.
• Zooming in can often reveal details that give the AI away.

6. Ask Directly

Sometimes the simplest way is the most effective—ask the creator. Many people will be upfront about using AI tools, especially if it was part of their creative process.

AI-generated content isn’t automatically bad—it can be useful, efficient, and even inspiring. But being able to tell whether something was created by AI helps you evaluate its reliability and originality. With a mix of common sense, fact-checking, and detection tools, you’ll be better equipped to spot the difference.