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How To Spot an AI Image

Linus Tech Tips@LinusTechTips1M viewsNov 23, 20251:09
Source
YT
Views
1M
Subscribers
16.8M
Critic
8.5
Audience
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Description

How to spot a deep fake or a generated scam video. Shadows and vanishing points. We live in a 3D space. AI is creating 2D images in an attempt to simulate a 3D space and it's doing that without really a proper understanding of the laws of physics that govern light. You know intuitively that shadows will be cast away from it. AI kind of gets this and tries to get it right, but if you try to align the shadows with the light source, odds are that they're not going to converge properly. And the same goes for something that human artists have understood for centuries. See, in a real picture, every object eventually converges towards what's called the vanishing point on the horizon. AI fails to do that and is going to draw lines that don't converge [music] properly. We are far beyond the days of Will Smith's face melting as he eats his non-convergent spaghetti. Depending on the model and how much effort someone would put in, sure, you might spot an extra limb or lack thereof and instantly know the image is fake, but it's gotten much harder to tell right away and is advancing at a rapid pace. If you're interested in protecting yourself and your loved ones from all sorts of scams, you can get 90 days of Bit Defender's premium security product absolutely free at the link below, which includes scam protection.

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AI OverviewEnglishEnglish

In this short, the creator explains how to spot a deep fake or a generated scam video by focusing on shadows and vanishing points in a 3D space. He begins by noting that AI creates 2D images to simulate 3D light, but often fails to align shadows with the light source, causing lines that don’t converge properly. The video walks through the process of checking whether shadows are cast away from the light source and whether the vanishing point on the horizon is correctly placed. By comparing the AI-generated image to a real picture, viewers can instantly spot an extra limb or a missing one and determine if the image is fake or not. The presenter also mentions a 90‑day Bit Defender premium security product, which is offered for free at the link below, and encourages viewers to protect themselves and loved ones from scams.

The comments reveal that viewers appreciate Linus’s humor about braces and the AI spotting technique. Many commenters note that the video’s upscaling makes it harder to tell real content from AI, and that the video’s humor and technical tips are useful for preventing future scams. The community also highlights the importance of vanishing points and shadow alignment as key indicators of AI-generated images.

Topics · tech · review · pc · linus · computer · video · gpu

Questions answered

What is the main technique for spotting AI-generated images?
Look for proper shadow alignment and vanishing point convergence.
How does AI handle light simulation in 2D images?
By modeling shadows and vanishing points to mimic 3D space.
What role does Linus play in the video?
Linus demonstrates the spotting technique and jokes about braces.