How to Spot AI-Generated Images: A Visual Guide

Why This Matters

AI image generators like Midjourney, DALL-E 3, Stable Diffusion, and Flux have gotten remarkably good. A casual scroll through social media will expose you to dozens of AI-generated images daily, and most people scroll right past them without a second thought.

But the tells are still there if you know where to look.

The Classic Tells

1. Hands and Fingers

This remains the most reliable indicator, though it is improving rapidly. Look for:

• Extra or missing fingers (six fingers is still common)
• Fingers that merge into each other or bend at impossible angles
• Fingernails that are inconsistent in size or shape
• Hands that look "melted" or have smooth, undefined joints

2026 update: The latest models (Midjourney v6, Flux Pro) have largely fixed the obvious hand problems. But zoom in closely and you will still find subtle issues: fingertips that are slightly too uniform, knuckles that lack natural wrinkles, or nail beds that look painted on.

2. Text and Writing

AI still struggles with text in images. Look for:

• Letters that are almost-but-not-quite real (especially in signs, book covers, or clothing)
• Text that looks like a foreign alphabet mimicking English
• Inconsistent font sizes within the same word
• Words that are close to real words but slightly off

3. Background Inconsistencies

The main subject of an AI image usually looks great. The background is where things fall apart:

• Architecture that defies physics (windows that don't align, impossible staircases)
• Trees or foliage that repeat in unnatural patterns
• Crowds where faces blur into abstract shapes
• Objects that fade into undefined blobs at the edges

4. Lighting and Shadows

AI often gets lighting directionally wrong:

• Shadows that point in different directions within the same scene
• Reflections that don't match the object they should be reflecting
• Light sources that are inconsistent (bright highlights on one side, no corresponding shadow)
• Overly perfect, studio-quality lighting in supposedly candid scenes

5. Skin and Texture

• Skin that is unnaturally smooth, almost poreless
• Repetitive texture patterns (look at hair, fabric, or skin at full zoom)
• Eyes with perfectly identical catchlights and iris patterns
• Teeth that are too uniform or too perfect

6. Symmetry

Real faces are slightly asymmetric. AI faces tend to be more symmetric than natural:

• Perfectly mirrored earrings, eyebrows, or facial features
• Hair that falls in an unnaturally balanced pattern
• Clothing details (collars, buttons) that are too perfectly aligned

What About Detection Tools?

Image detection tools like Hive Moderation, Sensity AI, and AI or Not can help, but they are not foolproof. They work best on images from common generators and may miss outputs from newer or fine-tuned models.

The most reliable approach is combining tool-based detection with your own visual inspection. Train your eye using the tells above, and use tools as a second opinion.

The Hard Truth

As models improve, visual tells will become harder to spot. The arms race between generation and detection is ongoing. The best defense is awareness: knowing that AI images exist, questioning what you see, and verifying before sharing.