How to identify deepfakes and other fake AI images? These tips will help you know the truth

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AI images have become a big concern due to their usage in creating fake images and deepfakes. While often extremely hard to tell, there are some ways to know the difference.

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Take a look at the overall design of an artwork. Oftentimes, an AI-generated image will not be logically consistent, and you will notice some functional flaws.

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For example, an AI image of a house might not have windows in the right positions, a slightly crooked door or the pavement to the door does not align correctly.

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Look for imperfections. This one works well when the image is of a human or a real-world object.

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If the human has flawlessly blended skin, a perfect set of teeth, or just wide but unnatural eyes, they could be generated by AI. Additionally, such images will have a low-resolution background.

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Look for anomalies. Since the AI generates images based on word prompts, it is simply trying to put together images from its database that closely resemble the prompt.

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This means irregularities will be common. A human with six fingers, a necklace that goes nowhere, or a car whose tyres appear to be fused with the road are all signs of AI-generated images.

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Look for expressions and artistic narratives. Human-generated photos will tell a story, whether it is of a human expression or a narrative being shown.

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While AI can show a narrative, a dead sign to figure them out is that images either appear to lack any creativity or the expressions are so one-dimensional that they appear flat.

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Light and shadows. Pictures taken by a camera will always be impacted by lights and shadows no matter how professional the environment is.

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In contrast, AI images do not understand lights and shadows and the images usually lack shadows or are placed in a way that makes no logical sense.