How to Spot AI-Generated Content (Without Needing a Computer Science Degree)

By Ryan Alexander Wainz | Cybersecurity & AI Advocate

Hi friends, welcome back to the blog! Today we’re diving into a topic that’s becoming more relevant by the day—how to spot AI-generated content.

Whether you're scrolling through social media, reading product reviews, or even applying for a job, chances are you’ve come across something created by AI. It could be a fake image, a convincing video, or an article that just feels “off”—but you can’t quite explain why.

So how do you tell what’s real and what’s synthetic—without needing a PhD in computer science?

Let’s break it down in plain English, with tips anyone can use.

 
🧠 Why This Matters More Than Ever

We’re entering an era where AI can mimic human behavior almost perfectly—writing blog posts, generating headshots, even cloning voices. While these tools have incredible upside (I use some myself!), they also introduce serious risks:

Disinformation / Fake News: AI-generated videos and images can spread quickly, especially during elections or global events.
Scams & Phishing: AI-written messages are now more convincing and personalized than ever.
Trust Erosion: If anything can be faked, how do we know what’s real? This is becoming one of the biggest issues in today’s world.

That’s why learning how to spot AI content is becoming a basic digital literacy skill—just like recognizing a phishing link or knowing how to protect your password.

 
✍️ How to Identify AI-Written Text

AI text generators like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are impressive—but not perfect. Here are a few red flags to watch for:

🔹 Too polished or robotic tone:
AI often writes with flawless grammar, but the tone can feel generic or oddly emotionless.

🔹 Lack of specific details or personal experience:
If something reads like a summary without real anecdotes or firsthand insight, it might be synthetic.

🔹 Clickbaity or emotionally charged headlines:
Both AI and people use exaggerated language to drive clicks. It’s often a sign of manipulation, not authenticity.

🔹 Repetition or redundancy:
AI content sometimes repeats points in slightly different ways to appear longer or more “thorough.”

🔹 Outdated or made-up facts:
Even top AI tools can hallucinate facts—like fake quotes, stats, or sources.

🛠️ Quick Test Tools:

GPTZero
Copyleaks AI Detector
ChatGPT itself: Paste in the text and ask, “Was this AI-generated?”
Your gut: If it feels off, it probably is.

🖼️ How to Catch AI-Generated Images

AI tools like Midjourney, DALL·E, and Stability are now capable of creating hyper-realistic images. But there are still clues:

🔹 Hands and fingers:
Still a weak spot for many models. Look for extra fingers, warped joints, or unnatural positions.

🔹 Weird background details:
Mangled text, blurry shadows, or repeating patterns are common signs of AI image synthesis.

🔹 Facial symmetry and reflections:
Real faces are rarely symmetrical. Reflections in sunglasses or mirrors are often wrong.

🔹 Odd lighting and depth:
If the scene looks “too perfect” or strangely bright, it might be generated.

🛠️ Quick Tools:

Hugging Face AI Image Detector – Hugging Face is a great resource but constantly changing 
Optic (formerly Bioptic)
Google Reverse Image Search: How To Reverse Image Search (Google) 

 
🎥 How to Spot Deepfake Videos and Voice Clones

This is the fastest-evolving space—AI-generated videos and audio can fool even trained eyes. Here’s what to look for:

🔹 Lip-sync mismatch
🔹 Unnatural blinking or eye movement
🔹 Flat or robotic emotional delivery
🔹 Background flickering or ghosting

🛠️ Tools to Try:

Deepware Scanner
Reality Defender
⚠️ Note: Some tools may switch from free to paid later. Always double-check before relying on one.

 
🧭 Final Thoughts: Stay Curious, Not Paranoid

AI-generated content is only going to get more realistic—but that doesn’t mean you need to panic. The goal isn’t to distrust everything, but to build sharp instincts for the digital world we’re now living in.

In cybersecurity, we say: “Trust, but verify.” The same goes for AI.

🔍 Double-check the source
🤖 Run a quick test
🧠 Ask yourself: Does this feel human?

If you’re ever unsure, feel free to send it my way—I’m always happy to help break it down.

Thanks for reading and stay sharp out there!

Bonus Video: How to spot deepfakes and AI-generated images

Until next time,
Ryan Alexander Wainz
Cybersecurity Professional | AI Enthusiast | Advocate for Accessible Digital Security