Published March 21, 2025 10:00am EDT close 'Decoding Broken Hearts': Artificial intelligence used to advance heart health research Fox News anchor Bret Baier has the latest on the Murdoch Children's Research Institute's partnership with the Gladstone Institutes for the "Decoding Broken Hearts" initiative on "Special Report." Its becoming more common for images to be made with AI tools.As the artificial intelligence generation gets more advanced, its getting trickier to tell the difference between AI-made and human-made images. However, there are still signs to look out for.Here are some key indicators that an image was created by AI.GET EXPERT SECURITY ALERTS, MUST-KNOW TECH TIPS AND THE LATEST DIGITAL TRENDS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.SIGN UP FOR KURTS THE CYBERGUY REPORT NOW Example of an AI-created image (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)1. Detail problemsWhen it comes to photos of people, AI still has trouble mastering fine details like faces, textures and hands. Keep an eye out for inconsistencies such as extra fingers, strange skin tones or too many teeth.2. Glossy or fake-looking texturesAI cant always get textures right, so images may look too smooth or shiny. This shows up a lot in things like skin (which might look unnaturally poreless) or in nature scenes where trees or grass look kind of plasticky. If everything looks just a little too perfect, its probably AI.3. Lighting and shadow issuesOne of the easiest ways to spot AI is by looking at how lighting and shadows work. You might see shadows in odd places, or the lighting could look flat or inconsistent.4. Background irregularitiesAI struggles with depth and perspective, so check the background for anything that seems off. For instance, you might see blurry objects or a distorted skyline. Sometimes, the background wont even correctly match the image subject.5. Messed-up wordsIf there are words in the image, they might look jumbled, misspelled or nonsensical. This is because AI has a tough time making legible text, especially in more complex images.6. Hidden biasesAI learns from existing data, which can have a lot of built-in biases. As a result, AI images can showcase forms of discrimination. For example, most AI images of prestigious jobs will automatically feature White males.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE Example of an AI-created image (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)7. Unrealistic elementsSometimes, AI images will incorporate things that simply dont make sense. This might include animals in bizarre colors, impossible gadgets and other truly unbelievable settings. If youre questioning whether something is real, theres a good chance it isnt.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? Example of an AI-created image (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)8. WatermarksSome generative AI tools automatically add a watermark to the image. This will either be included in the lower corner of an image or be embedded in the background.9. Missing metadataWhile you might not be able to see it right away, AI images usually lack metadata. This is the information thats attached to an image file, such as photo resolution or copyright details.To view image metadata in Windows:Right-click theimage file and selectPropertiesClick theDetails tab in the windowTo find it on a Mac:Right-click the image fileSelectGet InfoOn real photos, metadata will be displayed. This information is missing when a photo is generated by AI.10. Reverse image searchFor the more deceptive photos, try doing areverse image search to track down where one came from. If its all over social media but not on trusted sites, be wary.Think you can spot the fake? Put your skills to the test with my "Find the Fake" games here.Kurts key takeawaysAI-generated images are becoming increasingly popular. While the technology may be useful in certain situations, it can also bring up big concerns around trust and security. Thats why its crucial to know how to spot AI images to help stop misinformation and protect brand credibility.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPWhat other types of AI content would you like help identifying? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/Newsletter.Alert:Malware steals bank cards and passwords from millions of devices.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.