how to tell if an image is AI
How to tell if an image is AI-generated
A detector is useful, but it should be one stop in the process, not the whole process.
1. Find the earliest source you can
Look for the original post, photographer, agency, publication, or creator. A screenshot of a repost rarely carries as much useful information as the original page or file.
2. Read the claim around the image
Look for a date, location, caption, and source. Then ask whether those details fit what the image is supposed to show.
3. Run a detector on the best file
Upload the cleanest original you have. Read the limitations if the image is compressed, cropped, illustrated, or taken from a screen.
4. Do not lean too hard on odd details
Hands, text, reflections, and textures can look strange in AI images, but they can also look strange after editing or compression. One odd detail does not settle the question.
Questions
What is the best way to check an image?+
Put several checks together: find the source, read the context, look for provenance, and use a detector. No single visual trick works every time.