AI-generated images often contain subtle flaws that hint at their artificial origin. These flaws can be found in faces, hands, and textures, and they can help users identify when an image was created by an algorithm rather than a human. Free tools such as Circle to Search can assist in detecting AI-generated images, but the increasing prevalence of such content across platforms like news feeds, Google Images, Pinterest, and advertisements has made it harder to distinguish real from fake. The term "AI slop" has been used to describe the large volume of low-quality AI-generated content, and as generative models continue to improve, the challenge of identifying fake images is expected to grow. Platforms like Google have launched advanced image generators, such as Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro, which can produce highly realistic images quickly, but this advancement raises concerns about the trustworthiness of online content. One common clue to identifying AI-generated images is distorted text. Early AI image generators had trouble rendering text clearly, and this remains a reliable way to spot fakes. If the text in an image appears warped, illegible, or nonsensical, it may be AI-generated. While AI models have improved, especially with tools like Google Gemini, they still make mistakes. For example, using a screenshot from ChatGPT with detailed instructions for placement on a tablet and overlaying a green background and logo resulted in slightly off text, indicating an AI-generated image. Another telltale sign is the presence of extra or missing body parts. AI models often struggle to generate characters with 10 fingers or correctly blend fingers, leading to anatomical inconsistencies. Checking for anomalies like extra limbs, impossibly long or short necks and torsos, and ensuring the number of nostrils is correct can help identify AI-generated images. Examples from Midjourney show images with nine fingers or recessed finger joints, which are typical AI errors. A hyperrealistic yet strange appearance can also indicate AI-generated content. Faces may have a vacant look, glassy or shiny eyes, or misaligned pupils. Skin may appear too smooth, and hair may seem too sparse. Using AI tools to retouch photos can lead to unrealistic results, such as poreless skin and deer-like eyes. These signs suggest AI involvement. The rise of AI-generated content has led many small businesses to use AI for logos, menus, and food photos. These images often appear too perfect, with overly clean dishes and no visible imperfections. For example, a Mexican restaurant used an AI-generated logo featuring a rifle scope on a burrito. Images with chaotic elements, such as strange and repetitive textures, overly intense backgrounds, and impossible shadows, can also be signs of AI generation. These images often resemble those created by a video game engine, with visual elements that seem to overwhelm the viewer. A lack of detail or overly smooth images can also indicate AI involvement. AI-generated images may lose texture and detail, appearing more like illustrations than real photographs. For example, historical photos colorized and restored with AI may lose their original composition, appearing as smooth surfaces without visible details. Free AI image detectors, such as Google's Circle to Search and Google Lens, can help identify AI-generated images. These tools can check for watermarks like SynthID and provide contextual information. However, they are not 100% reliable, and sophisticated fakes may still go undetected. The New York Times tested several AI detection tools and found that some incorrectly identified AI-generated images as authentic.