How to identify an AI image: 6 hidden signs it’s fake – and my go-to free detectors (www.zdnet.com)

AI-generated images are increasingly pervasive, but subtle flaws can help identify them as fakes. Notable indicators include garbled text, anatomical irregularities such as extra fingers or uncanny facial features, and overly smooth or hyper-realistic appearances. With advances in generative models, like Google’s Gemini 3 and its Nano Banana Pro image generator, discerning real images from AI creations is becoming more challenging. The article outlines six signs to spot AI images, emphasizing that despite improvements in rendering, certain telltale signs remain. For those looking to verify an image's authenticity, free tools like Google’s Circle to Search and Gemini's uploads offer options to check for AI generation, particularly looking for its SynthID watermark. Although these detectors aren't foolproof—famous instances include false positives generated by state-of-the-art tools—their convenience and availability make them valuable resources in an increasingly complex digital landscape. As AI content becomes more normalized, understanding these markers can help mitigate the confusion and misinformation associated with AI-generated media.