How to Check if an Image Is AI Generated

Combine visual checks with the metadata trail: hands, text and backgrounds still give many AI images away, and C2PA Content Credentials, IPTC source fields and generator tags can prove that a tool marked an image as AI-made.

Visual clues to look for

Hands and fingers: extra digits, fused fingers or impossible joints.
Teeth and eyes: mismatched eyes, misaligned pupils, teeth that blur together.
Text and signage: blurry glyphs, mirrored characters or nonsense words.
Textures and backgrounds: repeating patterns, smeared skin and buildings that melt into each other.

Technical metadata: C2PA and EXIF

A C2PA manifest is a signed record embedded by tools such as Adobe Firefly or Photoshop's generative features. EXIF and XMP can name the generator in the software field, and AI images often lack camera data. Check an image's metadata to see these fields without uploading the file. A missing manifest proves nothing: metadata is easy to remove and many tools never add it.

Quick checklist

Inspect hands, teeth, eyes and text.
Check that the background makes physical sense.
Review EXIF for missing camera fields or generator tags.
Look for a C2PA manifest.
Run a reverse image search.

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