AI has advanced rapidly, and one of the fields it has excelled in is generating images. With the next-gen AI tools today, generating a realistic image is a matter of a few seconds. Though the images generated using AI are creative and can become your Instagram post while you caption them, life lately can also mislead or scam people. We’ve previously covered many such instances where the scammers used AI to generate a real-looking image to scam users. With the AI-generated visuals becoming more common on social media and messaging platforms, distinguishing between real and artificial images is becoming an important digital skill. Here are some simple tips using which you can find if an image was generated using AI or not.
The government of India has also recently generated a video for the same, where they educate the citizens on how to identify an AI-generated image. The video was recently shared on the official X handle of PIB Fact Check. The authorities explained that although AI tools are becoming more advanced, they still leave behind visual clues that can help users spot manipulated or artificially created content. By paying attention to details such as facial features, lighting, object placement, and image consistency, users can often tell whether an image is real or AI-generated.
Become an Image Detective 🕵️♂️ and spot AI-generated images like a pro!
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 1, 2026
🔍 Can you tell what’s real and what’s fake?
Watch this video to learn the secret clues, tiny details, and smart tricks that help you identify AI-generated images in seconds.
Train your eye. Sharpen your… pic.twitter.com/TqKjWU2jJs
Here are some of the tricks you can use to check if an image is generated using AI:
1. Look for unrealistic details
One of the commonest indicators of the existence of AI-generated work is the inclusion of weird details. The fingers might be missing or joined together, the bodies might have an exaggerated appearance, and even textures on objects could be weird. Text written on signs or banners might even include some weird alphabets or even unreadable text. In the picture from the video, there is a man seated on the road.
Also read: Oppo Reno 16 and Reno 16c India price leaked ahead of launch: How much they may cost
2. Check lighting and shadows carefully
Lighting is always logical, but the images created by AI tend not to adhere to logic. The shadows might not fall in the same direction, or they can be incomplete. Blurring and colours that do not go well together are other indicators. As shown by the example below from the video, it had an oddly shaped head.
Moreover, you can also zoom in to take a closer look, as it often reveals flaws. Hair strands, skin texture, fabric patterns, and background elements may contain distortions that are difficult to notice at first glance.
3. Watch for overly symmetrical faces
It is true that human faces are naturally asymmetrical. The faces generated by AI algorithms, on the other hand, might look more symmetric than usual. One needs to look at the eyes, eyebrows, lips, and facial features to find out whether they are too similar. It has been clearly shown in the video released by the concerned authorities that the lips and teeth are perfectly symmetrical, but in reality, it cannot happen.
Also read: New rules from July 1: Passport application price hike, mAadhaar app retiring and more
4. Identify logical inconsistencies
Objects that violate basic laws of physics may suggest that the image is an AI creation. If there are missing components, unrealistic interaction between objects, hovering objects, or if the scene itself does not make practical sense, then the image may not be real. In the case of the picture in the video, there was a missing pedal.
5. Use online verification tools
One of the easy tricks to verify if an image is generated using AI or not is by using verification tools. Open AI has a dedicated page that allows users to check if an image has been generated using OpenAI tools. Moreover, you can also ask Gemini if an image is AI-generated using Google tools.