Some tips for figuring out if an image is AI or not
One: Tineye
Take the image and do a good old fashioned reverse image search. If the image shows up prior to about 2022 or 2023, you're in the clear. Otherwise, see what the source is on the oldest entry. Is it a social media account that posts a lot of AI content or otherwise seems pro-AI? Is it a social media account that seems to just be trolling or otherwise fishing for rage engagement? Is it the only thing that profile has posted? It's safe to assume it's AI. Obviously, this isn't foolproof; Tineye and the like don't have every image ever posted on the internet. It's worth a shot, though.
Two: SynthID
This one sucks a little because it does require that you log in and use Google Gemini 3. And at time of writing (Dec 6, 2025), I believe it only works with images generated by Nano Banana Pro. I don't think any other platforms have adopted it.
Anyway, SynthID is an invisible watermark that is embedded into the pixels of the images generated by Nano Banana, and is therefore invisible and hard to fuck with. So, you go to Gemini's website, you upload the image with the prompt "Was this image generated with Google AI?" then send it using fast mode. Once it responds, expand the analysis (should have a little drop down arrow), and make sure it says that the SynthID query was successful. This doesn't mean it was actually generated with Nano Banana, it just means Gemini was successful in analyzing it for the SynthID and isn't making shit up. The actual generated chat response from Gemini should tell you whether or not it was AI generated.
HERE is a tiktok video version of this point, breaking down steps, and going over caveats and other information that might be important.
(Side note: Please follow Jeremy Carrasco, he's out there doing the lord's work with AI detection. He's taught me a TON. TikTok / Instagram / YouTube)
Three: Slow down and think
I know, I know, this is boring. This is also applicable to video as much as it is to static images.
Is the image particularly blurry? Blurry, low-quality photos are common, yes, but it's also a tactic to get rid of that weird AI generated vibe some images and videos have. You know, lines that are too smooth, lighting that's too good, cameras that are too steady, weird physics and motion blur in videos, that kind of thing. Videos taken on modern phones should be relatively clear, even with motion blur.
Does it look like it was taken from a doorbell or security camera at night? This setting is used for a lot of generated videos and images because it does the same thing as the above point: it conceals the AI vibe. You expect it to be lower quality, unclear, blurry, etc. because it's dark and it's security camera footage, which don't have a reputation for being super clear. While that's sometimes true, modern doorbell cams and security cameras tend to be a lot clearer, even in the dark.
Is it of hot-topic celebrities or politicians? Are they doing something implicating or strange? This one is a bit of a gimme, but I remember the first AI image I got got by: Puffy Coat Pope. You remember, right?
This one. Innocuous. Not really anything crazy. I've seen the hats and things the Catholics wear, a weird puffy coat isn't out of the question. Alas. Here's a more prescient example: this generated image of Hugh Jackman, Tobey Maguire, and Pedro Pascal talking to Joe Russo allegedly on the set of Doomsday that was initially posted to r/MCUTheories. Someone pointed out they were all the wrong heights, which is true, and the background is also weird. That said, the thing that gave it away for me was Pedro's hair. If they were actually on set and shooting, I don't think his hair would look like that.
Also, AI still fucks up little details pretty badly. The smaller the details get, and the more in the background, the worse it gets. It's not uncommon for people wayyyy in the background of images to meld together or have two faces or other weird shit. If an image has something you know a lot about in it (for instance, in this image alone: camera equipment, lighting design, the actors themselves), take a close look and see if it holds up.
Does that animal actually do that? Platforms like Sora are really bad at animal behavior for some reason. It makes a lot of animals act like dogs. I've seen it with bears, sheep, deer, and cats. Also, just look and see if the physics make sense.
Finally: some words of encouragement.
The world is not ending. This is not the end of visual media. This is a weird, bad time, but we'll get through it. Contact your representatives and demand AI regulation, do your best not to engage with companies and people who encourage or push gen AI, if it's unavoidable complain about the inclusion of AI in products you use, follow people who study AI and computer science, and for the love of god get the hell off of tiktok's for you page and only use the following page. Take back the concept of curating your own online experience.
