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The rise of AI tools like ChatGPT has made it possible to generate human-like text instantly. While this has many legitimate uses, it raises concerns about AI content passed off as written by humans. How can you discern whether an article, essay, or other content was AI-generated? Here are some tips for spotting the telltale signs.
Look for Unnatural Repetition
One giveaway of AI text is repetitive phrasing. Because the AI has limited context about what it’s writing, it often repeats the same words and sentence structures. Read carefully and highlight any phrases or sections that sound repetitive or formulaic. Human writers will vary their language more.
Watch for Inconsistent Tone and Style
Humans have a recognizable writing tone and style. AI models may start off sounding natural, but struggle to maintain stylistic consistency through longer pieces. The tone may shift jarringly from section to section. Or the language may vacillate between professional and casual diction.
Check for Contradictions and Inaccuracies
Unlike humans, AI lacks real-world knowledge and common sense. What it “knows” comes strictly from its training data. So AI content often includes logical contradictions, false analogies, and clearly inaccurate facts. Any bizarre claims or inconsistencies suggest generated text.
Beware of Generic, Non-Specific Details
To sound knowledgeable, AI text often includes loosely relevant facts and details. But look closely – are the supporting points merely generic trivia or platitudes? Humans offer rich, highly specific examples and anecdotes. The more vapid and nonspecific the details, the more likely AI created the content.
Assess the Structure and Organization
AI models mimic the structure of human writing by including introductions, thesis statements, and conclusions. But look for logical gaps in the flow between sections. Also watch for conclusions and titles disconnected from the body due to the AI straying off point.
Spotting AI content takes close reading and a critical eye. But telltale signs like repetition, inconsistent tone, and generic details give it away. With practice, you can learn to reliably detect text spun not by a human author, but an artificial brain.
