How to Detect AI-Generated Content: 10 Tips for Spotting Artificial Writing

Artificial intelligence has advanced rapidly in recent years, with systems like GPT-3 now able to generate remarkably human-like text. This has led to growing concerns about how to determine whether a piece of writing was produced by a human or an AI. While AI-generated text can sometimes pass initial inspection, there are often telltale signs that give away its artificial origins upon closer examination. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the most effective methods and techniques for detecting AI-written content.

Look for Lack of Specific Details and Personal Knowledge

One of the biggest giveaways that a text was written by an AI is a lack of specific, personal details. Human writers draw upon their own unique experiences, background knowledge, and perspectives to create authentic and engaging content. AI systems operate solely based on their training data, allowing them to produce plausible but generic text. Look for writing that lacks specific examples, personal anecdotes, cultural references, and opinions. If the writing reads as vaguely encyclopedic without revealing the author’s personal touch, it was likely AI-generated.

Examine Logical Consistency

AI systems are prone to logical inconsistencies, contradictions, and factual errors. They may state one thing in one section of text and then contradict it later on, or make blatantly incorrect statements. Humans have a robust model of the world that allows us to maintain self-consistency. We know that if we state something to be true, we should not later contradict that fact without explanation. See if the text contains any glaring logical fallacies or erroneous statements that a human expert on the topic would be unlikely to make.

Check for Awareness of Broader Context

Human writers do not craft content in isolation; they express ideas that connect to the larger social and historical context. See if the text lacks awareness of broader cultural dialogues, political issues, public knowledge, and larger trends related to the subject. Does it fail to reference current and past events that provide crucial context? For example, a human-written news article about a recent scandal should situate it within relevant details about how it relates to public opinion and previous scandals. Lack of such contextual grounding is a strong sign of AI authorship.

Look for Monotone Vocabulary and Tone

Humans use varied vocabulary and adapt their tone appropriately for different parts of a text. AI systems often exhibit a repetitive and limited vocabulary, as well as a flat, emotionless tone regardless of the subject material. They may use a sophisticated word in one sentence, then repeat it awkwardly multiple times throughout the text. See if the language use seems unnaturally basic, with little word variation. Also check if the tone stays creepily monotonous even when expressing ideas or emotions that should evoke some stylistic variation.

Examine the Structure and Organization

AI-generated text tends to lack coherent narrative structure and logical organization. While humans plan writing linearly with clear progression of ideas, AIs often jump sporadically between points without transition. See if the piece exhibits clear narrative flow or if it reads more as a jumble of disparate points. Also look for lacking structural elements like an introduction building to a thesis, supportive body paragraphs, transitions between ideas, and a conclusion synthesizing main points.

Check for Lack of Original Insights

Human writers synthesize and build upon existing ideas to generate unique insights and analysis. Meanwhile, AI predominantly recites, rewords, and regurgitates information from its training data. Read through the text carefully to check if it contains novel, original analysis or if it merely paraphrases common information without adding new perspectives. Lack of novel insights indicates AI authorship.

Does It Avoid Controversial Stances?

Human writers often express controversial opinions and take creative risks that run counter to mainstream thought. AI systems avoid staking out bold positions on controversial issues in order to seem impartial. See if the text expresses vigorous opinions on divisive topics or if it sticks to mild, uncontroversial points of view. Lack of bold opinions hints at AI origins.

Evaluate the Complexity of the Ideas

Humans have multifaceted world knowledge that allows us to construct rich, complex ideas. AI systems operate based on statistical associations between words and concepts. While they can produce superficially complex text, their arguments often lack underlying depth and nuance. Look for facility with truly complex concepts requiring wisdom and erudition like philosophy, ethics, culture, and politics. If such ideas come across as simplistic, it may be AI-authored.

Examine References and Sources

Human research incorporates references and citations to source material. AI often generates text without attribution or actively misleading references. Verify any sources are real and relevant to the topic. Lack of truthful sourcing demonstrates AI fiction rather than reality.

Compare to Other Samples from Author

Consistently compare the text to other verified writing samples from the presumed author. Analyze vocabulary, tone, opinions, literary style and other linguistic patterns for similarity. Major deviations from the author’s established voice are a clue of AI authorship, while strong similarities suggest authentic human origins.

Cross-Reference Facts and Figures

If the text contains statistics, facts, and figures, cross-reference them against known data sources to fact check accuracy. Inability to corroborate key details indicates shoddy AI research rather than human expertise.

Evaluate Writing Speed

Extremely rapid output can betray AI origins. Calculate the number of words generated divided by the time spent writing. Human authors average 40-80 words per hour. AI can produce hundreds or thousands. While not definitive, improbable speed is a warning sign of automation.

Ask Clarifying Questions

Actively probe the text’s creator with clarifying questions. AI often cannot engage dynamically to explain intents, provide missing information, or elaborate on points made. If responses seem evasive, generic or non-sensical, it exposes the absence of human understanding.

Perform a Reverse Image Search

If the text contains images, perform a reverse image search to evaluate their originality. AI systems frequently insert stock or plagiarized imagery lacking attribution. Lack of original graphics hints at automation.

Evaluate Overall Coherence

Finally, consider the overall coherence, consistency, and common sense exhibited throughout the writing. AI can mimic isolated aspects of human writing when examined separately but struggle to tie elements together seamlessly. Evaluate whether lapses of logic, contradictions, and factual discrepancies permeate the text holistically when read critically from start to finish. The more errors and lack of cohesion identified, the stronger the case for AI authorship.

In summary, exposing AI-generated content requires looking beyond surface impressions to perform close critical analysis. Seek out lack of original insights, personal perspective, factual accuracy, logical rigor, complex conceptualization, contextual awareness, coherent structure, and consistent voice and style. Compare to the author’s other samples and press for responsive elaboration. Confirm questionable sources and figures, account for improbable speed and plagiarism, and gauge overall coherence. Applying such diligent scrutiny makes differentiating man from machine a more surmountable challenge. But human judgment and intuition remain crucial. We must cultivate focused discernment to penetrate the AI facade and determine the true humanity within.