Is this image AI? A visual checklist
Nine quick checks you can do by eye before you run a scan. The checklist does not give a verdict, because many AI images now pass every visual test.
What you get
Fast first pass
Most obvious fakes fail one of these checks within a minute.
Teaches what to look for
Useful for classrooms, newsrooms and family conversations.
Pairs with a scan
Where the eye is unsure, a detector adds a second opinion.
Limits
- Passing every check does not make an image real. Failing a check does not make it fake, since real photos have odd moments too.
How it works
- 01
Zoom in
Open the image at full size.
- 02
Work down the list
Tick each check as you do it.
- 03
Run a scan
Use Witness for a likelihood and a heatmap.
Frequently asked questions
Can I tell if an image is AI by looking?
Sometimes. Hands, text and background logic still trip up some generators, but the best ones pass casual inspection. A scan and a source check are more reliable together.
What is the fastest reliable check?
Find the earliest copy with reverse image search, then scan the image.
Related
Don't guess. Witness it.
Free to try. No account needed for your first scans. Witness gives a likelihood with a confidence percentage, not a certainty.