Beyond the pixels: How to identify fake, AI-generated images

Reverse image search

The first step to identify the authenticity of an image is through reverse image search. Reverse image search uses picture as a query instead of text. This can be done either through Google Lens application on the smartphones or even through the browser on a laptop or computer. Same can be done by using the ‘Yandex’ search engine. Reverse image search tells us if the image was used earlier on other social media platforms or articles. This clarifies the context in which the image is being used and shared.

However, if reverse image search doesn’t throw up any results, describe the picture using keywords on Google search engine and use this as a query. For example, if the picture shows a cat, describe what the cat is doing in the picture and hope for the best results, to find the image.

AI image detectors

If you suspect that the image is generated using AI, use AI image detectors such as, Hive Moderation, Optic AI or Not and Maybe’s AI Art Detector.

Read more aboout AI generated images and their identification here.

Google Bard

One of the interesting things about Google’s experimental, conversational AI chat service, Google Bard is that it can give results about images too, if you search them in the prompt section and ask questions about the same. For example, you can insert a picture and ask ‘tell me more about the picture?’ or ‘Where was this taken?’ Give precise prompts in order to get correct suggestions. And then using the clues, find out more about the pictures.