How to spot AI-generated images
Learn practical checks for lighting, reflections, geometry, texture and provenance with a marked example created for this guide.
Start with structure, not intuition
A polished image can feel credible while containing small physical contradictions. Trace rigid objects from end to end and check whether hinges, handles, rails, frames and repeated parts keep a stable shape.
Compare light and reflections
Shadows should agree with the direction and softness of the light. Reflections should preserve the position and orientation of nearby objects instead of inventing a loosely similar scene.
Inspect contact points and texture
Look where an object meets a table, floor, wall or another object. Missing contact shadows, fused boundaries, cloned texture and repeated irregularities can justify closer inspection.
Treat text and anatomy carefully
Small lettering, fingers, teeth, jewellery and background faces can lose consistent structure. These are clues, not proof: real photographs can also contain blur, compression and unusual perspective.
Verify the source
When the stakes matter, search for the original publication, creator, licence or generation disclosure. Metadata and trustworthy provenance usually provide stronger evidence than visual guessing.
A practical checklist
Pause before sharing, identify the claim attached to the image, inspect the full frame, search for the source and remain uncertain when the evidence is incomplete.