How to spot AI-generated content: 4 ways to sharpen your digital awareness
AI-made images, videos, and text are getting harder to spot. Most people still miss the tells. Use these four checkpoints to protect your feed, your brand, and your credibility. Insights include practical advice from Sarah Kimmel of Family Tech Zone.
1) Pay attention to your emotions
"AI is really trying to get to your emotions," Kimmel said. If a post spikes excitement, anger, or confusion, treat it as a cue to slow down. Emotional manipulation is the point, not the byproduct.
- Pause for 30 seconds before sharing. Ask: What feeling is this trying to trigger?
- Scan for specifics: names, dates, locations, links to primary sources.
- For PR/comms teams: Require a second set of eyes on anything that could affect reputation or investor sentiment.
2) Go directly to the source
Don't validate a claim by clicking the viral post's link. Type the organization's URL yourself or search for their official channels. Kimmel pointed to a fake cow-themed Lego set circulating online-easy to believe, easier to verify by visiting the official site.
- Check the brand's website, newsroom, or press center before you react.
- Verify on official social handles and recent posts, not screenshots.
- Watch for typos, lookalike domains, and link shorteners hiding destinations.
3) Look for visual inconsistencies
AI still stumbles on small, stubborn details. "AI has a really hard time especially with hands and transitions," Kimmel said. Scan edges and ask if the scene is even feasible.
- Edges: shirts melting into backgrounds, hair fading into scenery, halos around subjects.
- Hands: extra fingers, bent or fused digits, mismatched nails or jewelry.
- Light and physics: impossible reflections, warped glasses, inconsistent shadows.
- Context: logos that look off, uniforms that don't match the event, nonsense text on signs.
4) Watch for platform warnings
Platforms are getting better at flagging synthetic media. Meta platforms, YouTube, and even TikTok now add warnings or labels on some content. Treat labels as signals, not proof-do your own verification.
A quick workflow for writers, PR, and comms
- Emotional check: If it spikes a reaction, pause.
- Source check: Find the original on the brand site or official handles.
- Visual check: Scan edges, hands, lighting, and feasibility.
- Context check: Compare with trusted outlets and prior statements.
- Decision: Document what you verified before you publish or share.
AI literacy is now a core media skill. Build team standards, add a two-step review for high-impact posts, and keep training your eye.
Level up your team's AI awareness: explore role-based learning paths at Complete AI Training.
