That viral post you see on internet, real or AI?:Before you trust anything online, check these 7 tricks to spot AI-generated content

The recent Siya Ketan murder case has become one of the most talked-about stories across India. It is being discussed on social media, messaging apps, and in households across the country. Along with genuine updates, many photos, videos, and posts related to the case are also going viral.
However, not everything you see online is necessarily real. Some visuals or claims may be edited, taken out of context, or even generated using AI. That’s why it’s important not to believe or share any viral content without verifying it first. Also, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check recently shared a video explaining how to recognise AI-generated images. According to the government, AI is improving rapidly, but it still leaves behind small clues that can help you tell whether an image is real or fake. To help you separate fact from fiction, we’ve put together a simple guide explaining how to check whether a news story, photo, video or online content is real or AI-generated, so you don’t unintentionally spread misinformation. Part A: How to identify an AI-generated image 1. Look closely at hands, faces, and small details The easiest way to spot an AI-generated image is by checking the small details. AI often struggles to create human hands correctly. You may notice extra fingers, missing fingers, or fingers joined together. Faces may also look unusual, while clothes, jewellery or objects in the background may appear distorted. Another common clue is text. If you see signboards, posters or product labels with unreadable or strange letters, the image could be AI-generated. What to check 2. Check lighting and shadows AI-generated images often fail to match lighting correctly. Shadows may fall in different directions, disappear completely, or look darker than they should. Colours may also appear unusual or inconsistent. If something feels visually “off,” zoom in and inspect the image carefully. What to check 3. Check whether the face looks too perfect No human face is perfectly symmetrical. AI tools sometimes create faces where both eyes, eyebrows, lips, or teeth look almost identical. While it may appear attractive, perfect symmetry is actually uncommon in real life. What to check 4. Look for objects that don’t make sense Sometimes the biggest clue isn’t the person, it’s the objects around them. AI can generate bicycles without pedals, watches without numbers, chairs with impossible shapes or floating objects that ignore the laws of physics. If something doesn’t seem logical, there’s a chance the image was created using AI. Examples Also read: Harry Potter’s Tom Riddle diary comes to life using AI?: Canadian developer turns reMarkable tablet into an AI notebook using Anthropic’s Fable 5 model

5. Use AI detection tools If you’re still unsure, use online verification tools. Several companies now offer free tools that can analyse images and tell whether they were likely created using AI. Some platforms can also detect hidden digital watermarks placed inside AI-generated content. Useful tools Part B: How to check whether an article or text was written by AI AI doesn’t just create images. It can also write emails, blogs, and news articles. If you want to know whether a piece of writing was generated by AI, follow these steps. Step 1: Copy the text Copy the article or paragraph that you want to check. Step 2: Paste it into an AI detector Use trusted AI detection websites such as GPTZero and Copyleaks AI Detector. These tools analyse sentence patterns and estimate whether the content was likely written by AI. Step 3: Read the result carefully No AI detector is 100% accurate. Instead of treating the result as proof, use it as an indicator. If the tool says there is a high probability that the content is AI-generated, verify the information from trusted news sources before believing or sharing it. Also read: Amazon Prime Day Sale: Discounts across major electronics segment, from iPhone 16 to gaming laptops – check out the best deals

Part C: How to check whether a video is AI-generated Fake videos, also called ‘deepfakes,’ are becoming increasingly common. Fortunately, there are a few ways to identify them. 1. Look carefully for visual mistakes AI-generated videos may contain: 2. Use Google tools Google allows users to upload videos to Gemini for analysis. It may help identify whether a video appears to have been generated or edited using Google’s AI technologies. 3. Check for digital watermarks Some AI companies embed invisible digital watermarks into the images and videos they generate. For example, Google’s SynthID adds hidden identifiers that can help verify whether content was created using AI. 4. Reverse search the image before sharing One of the simplest ways to verify a viral image is to perform a reverse image search. Upload the image to ‘Google Reverse Image Search’ to check: This method is especially useful during breaking news events when old images are often reshared with false claims. AI-generated content may also carry labels Under India’s IT Rules, major online platforms are expected to identify or label AI-generated content wherever applicable. If an image or video has been entirely created using AI, you may see labels such as AI-generated, created with AI, and Metadata indicating AI creation. AI-generated images, videos, and articles are becoming more realistic every day, making it harder to tell what’s real and what’s fake. However, by paying attention to small details and verifying content with trusted AI detection tools, you can avoid being misled. Before believing or sharing any viral photo, video, or article, take a few minutes to verify it.