7 steps to check if image is AI generated
No single test is perfect, so work through these in order and stop when you have a clear answer. The first steps are the most reliable and the fastest; later steps take more effort but work on any image, even a screenshot.
Step 1: Find the original file
Evidence lives in the file, and every repost removes some of it. A picture downloaded from the creator's own page, sent "as a document", or exported straight from an app keeps its credentials and metadata. A screenshot keeps none. Spend a minute finding the best copy before you test anything.
Step 2: Look for Content Credentials
Content Credentials (the C2PA standard) are a signed record inside the file. ChatGPT, Gemini, Adobe Firefly and Microsoft Designer add them to every generated image. If a valid manifest lists "trained algorithmic media" as the source, the image is AI generated, and the check is over. The detector above reads credentials automatically; the C2PA checker shows the full record.
Step 3: Read the metadata
Many generators write their name or the prompt into the file. Typical signs:
- A PNG with a "parameters" block listing prompt, steps, sampler and seed (Automatic1111, Forge).
- A PNG containing ComfyUI "prompt" and "workflow" JSON.
- An IPTC Digital Source Type of "trainedAlgorithmicMedia", used by Midjourney, Google and others.
- Software or creator tool fields naming a generator.
A real camera photo usually shows make, model, lens, exposure and date instead. Those fields are only weak evidence, because they can be copied, and missing fields mean nothing: most apps strip them.
Step 4: Run an AI detection model
When the file is clean, a trained model can judge the pixels. The detector on this page uses a compact vision transformer that runs in your browser and gives an AI score from 0 to 100. Treat 80 or more as a strong hint, 25 or less as a likely real photo, and anything in between as unresolved. A low score is weaker evidence than a high one, because current commercial generators often slip under the radar. Our accuracy report explains how reliable each band is.
Step 5: Inspect the details
Zoom to 200% and scan the image methodically. AI images still often show:
- text, signs and labels that are not real words;
- jewellery, glasses, buttons, zips and straps that merge into skin or fabric;
- reflections in mirrors, windows and eyes that do not match the scene;
- shadows falling in different directions from one light source;
- crowds where faces melt or repeat, and architecture with impossible lines;
- an overall glossy, airbrushed look with perfect lighting.
Step 6: Trace the source
Use a reverse image search (Google Lens, Bing Visual Search or TinEye) to find earlier copies. The first post often reveals the creator, and many AI artists label their work. If a news picture appears nowhere on established news or photo agency sites, be suspicious.
Step 7: Check the context
Ask who benefits from the image, whether other witnesses posted similar pictures, and whether the account has a history of genuine photos. Generated images are often used in scams, engagement bait and fast-moving news; context catches what pixels hide.
Methods to check if an image is AI generated compared
| Method | Reliability | Works on screenshots? |
|---|---|---|
| Content Credentials | Very high when present | No |
| Generator metadata | High when present | No |
| Detection model | Medium; varies by generator | Yes, with lower accuracy |
| Visual inspection | Medium; depends on experience | Yes |
| Reverse image search | High when the source is found | Yes |
| Context and account history | Supporting evidence | Yes |
Mistakes to avoid
- Trusting one percentage. Different detectors disagree on hard images. Look for agreement between independent clues.
- Reading "no credentials" as "real". Most AI images online have lost their credentials.
- Accusing people on a score alone. Ask for process evidence, original files or a fresh photo first.
- Uploading private photos to unknown services. Use a tool that works locally, like this one.
Going further? The AI picture detector page has tips for images from social media and chat apps, and the AI art detector page covers illustrations and anime art.