With technology advancing faster than ever before, fraud, scams, and misinformation are also spreading at unprecedented rates. Fake information is everywhere, especially across social media platforms. From Reddit to Facebook and Instagram, the internet has become a darker and more deceptive place to explore.
As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, it's getting harder to tell what’s real and what’s computer-generated. AI can now create incredibly realistic images and videos that look just like something seen in the real world.
The other day, I saw a photo of a dolphin carrying a tiger. While it may be hard to imagine such a scene, the image looked real. What caught my attention was that millions of users shared heartfelt messages about empathy, animal care, and love.
It’s surprising how much AI technologies, especially AI-generated images, shape our thoughts and feelings. Although AI-generated content may seem completely realistic, there are still ways to tell fake from reality.
1. Pay Attention to Eyes, Hands, and Teeth
Eyes might not be aligned correctly or may look lifeless. Hands often appear distorted, with extra fingers, strange angles, or missing parts. Teeth may look like a white blur instead of clearly separated individual teeth.
2. Strange Backgrounds and Details
AI struggles with small, complex details. You might notice warped backgrounds that don’t make sense, like a melted chair or a floating tree. Text on signs or clothing can appear jumbled, incomplete, or unreadable.
3. Unnatural Lighting
Shadows might not match the direction of the light source. Sometimes, the lighting on the face doesn't match the rest of the scene.
4. Flawless but Unreal Skin
AI often smooths skin to an unrealistic level. There may be no wrinkles, freckles, pores, or natural variations. Everyone looks like a perfect digital model, which is often too good to be true.
5. Odd Clothing or Accessories
Clothing may look warped or strangely attached to the body. Accessories like glasses or earrings may mismatch, appear blurry, or have incorrect shapes.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays an important role in our daily lives, and while we can’t eliminate it, we can choose to use it responsibly. Let your intuition guide you! Take time to analyze the picture or video and look for any signs of AI involvement.
