Spotting AI Online - Quick Reference Checklist

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LOOK → LISTEN → LOGIC

👁️ LOOK - Visual Signs of AI

Check hands for extra fingers, missing fingers, or impossible positions
Examine fingers bending in unnatural ways
Look for objects not being held correctly
Check eyes for strange or inconsistent reflections
Notice lifeless or unnatural blinking patterns
Look for eyes pointing in slightly wrong directions
Check if pupils react properly to light
Look for too-perfect, plastic-looking skin
Notice inconsistent facial expressions
Check teeth for unnatural or blurry appearance
Look for hair blending weirdly into backgrounds
Check backgrounds for repeating patterns or textures
Look for odd blur or warping around objects
Check if text looks like gibberish or is unreadable
Verify that lighting makes sense for the scene

Quick Tips

For videos: Pause and examine individual frames carefully

For images: Zoom in to inspect details, especially hands and faces

👂 LISTEN - Audio Giveaways

Listen for breathing sounds and natural pauses
Check if voice is too perfect with no imperfections
Notice if speech has robotic, constant rhythm
Check if all words have the same emphasis
Verify that lips match the words being spoken
Check timing between mouth movement and audio
Notice if voice tone matches facial expressions
Verify that voice matches the message content
Check if voice matches person's age and appearance
Listen for emotional variations in speech

⚠️ Voice Cloning Scams

If you receive an urgent call from someone asking for money:

Hang up immediately
Call them back using a known number
Don't trust the voice alone
Ask questions only the real person would know

🧠 LOGIC - Common Sense Questions

Question 1: Who posted this?

Is it from a verified account?
Does the account have a real history?
Or is it random, new, or anonymous?

Question 2: Does this match their normal behavior?

Would this person really say/do this?
Does the message sound like their normal tone?
Is this typical content for this source?

Question 3: Is it emotionally manipulative?

Does it create urgent fear or excitement?
Does it pressure immediate action?
Does it promise something too good to be true?

Question 4: Is the claim believable?

Does this match what you know about the world?
Are other trusted sources reporting this?
Would this really happen this way?

⚠️ When to Be Extra Skeptical

Politics: Election content, endorsements, controversial statements
Finance: Investment opportunities, crypto schemes, get-rich-quick offers
Medical: Miracle cures, health advice from non-experts
Celebrity: Endorsements, personal messages, shocking revelations

✓ Essential Safety Rules

Always verify through a second source before taking action
Never send money based on a video or voice message alone
Don't share personal information with unverified sources
When in doubt, ask someone you trust to review the content
Report suspicious content to the platform
If something feels strange, check the source
Verify celebrity endorsements on official accounts
Use official customer service channels only

Remember

If something looks "almost right" but not fully natural, consider AI.

Real voices are messy. AI voices are smooth but lifeless.

If the source is questionable, the content probably is too.

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