Real or AI? Don't fall for it: how to tell if an image is fake

Channel 14 publishes a guide to identifying AI-generated images. The article explains that new models make it hard to distinguish real from fake, and recommends examining details like hands, lighting, and perspective. Digital forensics expert Hany Farid warns of losing the ability to agree on reality.

Channel 14 publishes a practical guide to identifying images created using artificial intelligence. The article notes that technology has advanced to the point where it is often very difficult to tell a real image from one created on a computer. In the past, AI images could be spotted by signs like an incorrect number of fingers, garbled text, or distorted details, but new models produce high-quality images that blur the line. The article recommends examining small details like hands, fingers, jewelry, hair, text in the image, lighting, reflections, and perspective. It also suggests checking who posted the image, as a new account designed to provoke extreme reactions can be a warning sign. A rule of thumb is to ask whether the image is 'too good to be true'. Digital forensics expert Hany Farid explains that the human brain is designed to detect danger, not to question whether something is real or fake, and the great danger is losing the ability to agree on what actually happened. The article emphasizes that in an era where an image can go viral within minutes, the ability to stop and ask questions is essential.