Q: What quick steps can I take to verify if a photo is fake? A: If you need a quick method for how to detect AI-generated images, start by checking context and source, zooming in on hands and text, running a reverse image search, inspecting lighting and reflections, and checking metadata or content credentials. Combine two or three of these tests to stop most viral fakes. Q: Which visual signs in a picture most often indicate AI manipulation? A: Look for inconsistent lighting or reflections, warped or nonsense text, repeating textures and blurred or haloed borders where hair meets sky or clothing meets skin. Zoom in on hands, ears, teeth and eyes for fused or extra fingers, misaligned pupils or teeth that look like a smooth block, and check jewelry and glasses for mismatches. Q: How can metadata and content credentials help verify an image? A: If you can, open image details to view metadata, but remember missing camera data is common in edited files and is not proof of manipulation by itself. Content Credentials (C2PA) can show provenance when present and tools like the Content Authenticity Initiative verifier can display them, though bad actors may strip signals so use these checks alongside other steps to learn how to detect AI-generated images. Q: Are reverse image searches useful for tracing a photo’s origin? A: Yes, reverse image search tools like Google Images, Bing Visual Search or Yandex can help find earlier versions and the earliest known appearance of a photo. Cross-post checks using caption keywords plus site-specific searches can also trace the original source or reveal matching news coverage. Q: Should I trust AI image detectors to tell me if an image is fake? A: AI image detectors can provide useful clues but are not definitive, so use multiple detectors and treat results as indicators rather than proof. Combine detector outputs with context checks, reverse searches and metadata or content-credential inspections for a stronger assessment. Q: How fast can AI tools fabricate realistic photos of public figures? A: Very fast — the NewsGuard study found some image generators produced convincing fakes of public figures in seconds, with Grok Imagine making lifelike images of multiple politicians. The fabricated photos in the study depicted scenes such as parties, private jets and beaches, showing how quickly realistic-seeming fakes can spread online. Q: What should I do before sharing a suspicious image online? A: Before sharing, run two or three quick checks like a reverse image search, zooming on hands and eyes, and checking shadows, reflections and caption context; if two checks disagree, do a third and if doubt remains, do not share. Save the image and note the earliest URL or poster if you plan to report it, and remember that learning how to detect AI-generated images helps stop viral fakes. Q: Why do small details such as hands and text often give away AI-generated images? A: AI systems often struggle with global consistency, so fine details break first and items like hands, ears, small text and jewelry frequently show errors. Checking these areas along with lighting, reflections and repeating patterns can expose inconsistencies that point to AI synthesis.