A Guide To Identifying AI Generated Videos

AI videos are becoming increasingly common, and their quality has improved so much that spotting them is getting tougher. It's one reason why a helpful video from content creator Jeremy Carrasco is worth watching, as he breaks down a few of the 'tells' that will help you identify the real from the fake.

The Three Categories of AI Detection

There are a bunch of tell-tale signs for identifying AI, which can be grouped into three categories: Anatomy, Technical, and Situational. While a single clue might not be a giveaway on its own, spotting several of these signs together is a surefire way to know that something is AI-generated.

Clue 1 Anatomy Flaws

Anatomy clues include the physical characteristics of subjects in the video that just don't look right. Keep an eye out for these giveaways:

• Waxy Skin: A common sign is when skin texture looks strange or overly smooth.
• Odd Movements: AI struggles with complex actions like running and sports, resulting in awkward hand and body movements.
• Glassy Eyes: Eyes may appear waxy, vacant, or unnaturally glassy.

Clue 2 Technical Glitches

Technical clues cover the more subtle, digital imperfections in the video itself. These can include:

• Soft Focus: A soft, slightly blurry look, even in a high-resolution video.
• Unusual Frame Rate: Using a 'cinematic' 24 fps frame rate in content where you wouldn't expect it, like a casual phone video.
• Audio Mismatches: Imperfect lip-syncing or voices that sound robotic.
• Background Morphing: Strange glitches in the background or objects that seem to morph into one another.

Clue 3 Situational Red Flags

Finally, situational clues are about the context of the video itself. Ask yourself these questions:

• Is the content too slickly produced for what is supposed to be 'throw-away' content?
• Does the content play on strong emotions in a way that seems ungenuine?
• Does it seem like the video's only purpose is to go viral?

We are now conditioned to see this type of "slop" content clogging our feeds. Understanding why it was made can help you decide whether it's authentic.

Stay Vigilant in the Age of AI

The reality is that AI video is improving constantly, making it harder to identify. You owe it to yourself to stay wary and curious about what you're seeing online.