How To Spot AI Generated Images A Simple Guide

Have you ever scrolled past a picture online and done a double-take? Maybe it was a video of a baby being interviewed or a picture of bunnies bouncing on a trampoline. In today's digital world, there's a good chance what you saw wasn't real. In fact, according to recent data, a staggering 71% of images on social media are now AI-generated.

The Puppy Test: Even Experts Can Be Fooled

Telling the difference between a real photo and an AI fake is getting harder every day. To prove the point, Washburn University's Chief Information Officer, John Havetry, was shown two photos of a puppy and asked to spot the fake. It wasn't easy.

One photo is AI generated, while the other was taken by Laura Decatur. (Claire Decatur/WIBW)

How to Spot an AI-Generated Image: An Expert's Checklist

So how can you become a better AI detector? Havetry says the key is to look for distortions and things that just don't seem right.

When looking at the photos, he pointed out a clue in the left image: "The main thing is the biscuit kind of looks like it’s floating."

For the photo on the right, he noted the realism. "This one looks like all the fur is laid out like you would expect," he said. "It has whiskers and you can see the hair come out through the hoodie.”

The takeaway is simple: study images closely. If something feels off or distorted, it's probably AI.

A Word of Caution: Protecting Your Data from AI

If you spot a fake, it's a good idea to warn others. And if you're thinking about creating AI images yourself, be careful.

"Be sure that people aren’t putting personal identifiable information in it," Havetry advises. "Whether about yourself, about the institution or financial data.”

So, Which Puppy Was Real?

Did you make your guess? If you thought the puppy in the gray hoodie was real, you were right! The pup in the red hoodie was the AI fake.

As this technology becomes more common, understanding the basics is key. To that end, Washburn University will begin offering an AI fundamentals class in the fall of 2025 to help educate the next generation.