Real vs AI Tutorial
Welcome to the Tutorial!
This interactive tutorial will guide you through how to play Real vs AI, showing you examples and teaching you how to spot the differences between real photographs and AI-generated images.
By the end of this tutorial, you'll be ready to challenge yourself in the game!
Basic Gameplay
In each turn of Real vs AI, you'll be presented with two images side by side. One image is a real photograph, and the other is AI-generated.
Your task is to identify which image is real by clicking on it.
Image A
Image B
How to Spot AI Images
AI-generated images often contain subtle (or sometimes obvious) artifacts and inconsistencies. Here are some common characteristics to look for:
Human Features
Pay close attention to:
- Eyes - uneven pupils, misaligned or oddly shaped eyes
- Teeth - unusual patterns, too many or misaligned teeth
- Hands - extra or missing fingers, unnatural finger positions
- Ears - asymmetrical or oddly shaped ears
Environmental Elements
Look for inconsistencies in:
- Lighting - multiple light sources or inconsistent shadows
- Backgrounds - blurry or distorted backgrounds
- Textures - unnatural patterns in fabric, skin, or other surfaces
- Physics - objects that appear to defy gravity or natural physical laws
Text and Symbols
Text in AI images often has:
- Garbled or nonsensical letters and words
- Inconsistent font styles within the same sign
- Logos that are almost but not quite right
- Text that doesn't align properly with surfaces
Image Composition
Overall image issues:
- Seams or blending issues where elements meet
- Unusually perfect or idealized compositions
- Repetitive patterns where things should be random
- Abnormally smooth or overly detailed areas
Examples
Let's practice with a few examples. Try to identify which image is real and which is AI-generated.
Example 1: Portrait
Image A
Image B
It was Image A!
Image A is the real photograph, and Image B is AI-generated.
Signs of AI generation in Image B:
- Cracks blend too smoothly with the image
- Clean background transitions
- Vibrant, overly perfect details
- Symmetrical or uniform background elements
- Inconsistent lighting across the scene
Example 2: Landscape
Image A
Image B
It was Image B!
Image B is the real photograph, and Image A is AI-generated.
Signs of AI generation in Image A:
- Unusual or illogical object placement
- Over-dramatic lighting effects
- Overly symmetrical or balanced arrangement of elements
- Uniform lighting across the scene without natural inconsistencies
Practice Round
Now let's try a practice round to apply what you've learned. Here are two images - select the one you believe is real.
Image A
Image B
Excellent!
You identified the real image correctly. You're almost ready to play the game!
Image A is the real photograph. Image B is AI-generated - notice the overly reflective surface, and perfectly balanced design suggests AI generation.
Nice Try!
Actually, Image A is the real photograph. Image B is AI-generated.
Look for these AI artifacts in Image B:
- Impeccably balanced or symmetrical design
- Reflective surfaces appear overly polished
- Fine details lack natural irregularities
Don't worry - this takes practice! The more you play, the better you'll get.
Style Transfer: A Special AI Technique
Style transfer is a sophisticated AI technique where artistic elements are overlaid onto a base image. This method can be especially tricky to detect because it uses a real image as its foundation.
How Style Transfer Works:
AI takes a real photo and selectively modifies specific elements while maintaining the overall composition and context. These changes can be subtle additions, removals, or alterations to the original image.
Original Real Image
AI-Modified Image
Spot the Differences:
In this example, the AI has made these specific modifications:
- Added sunglasses to the man's face
- Changed the color of the watch from gold to blue
- Changed the style of necklace he is wearing
- Slight adjustments to facial features to accommodate the sunglasses
- Minor changes to shadows and reflections
Why This Is Challenging: Style transfer is difficult to detect because the AI maintains most of the original image's authenticity while making targeted changes. The overall lighting, background, and composition remain intact.
Advanced Detection Tips:
- Look for items that would cast shadows but don't (like the sunglasses)
- Check for color inconsistencies in modified areas
- Examine edges around modified objects for unnatural blending
- Consider if the modifications make logical sense in the context
Achievement Unlocked!
Tutorial Graduate
You've completed the Real vs AI tutorial!
Congratulations!
You've completed the Real vs AI tutorial. You now have the basic skills to identify AI-generated images.
Remember, the more you play, the better you'll get at spotting the subtle differences between real and AI-generated images.
Quick Tips:
- Take your time to examine details
- Look for inconsistencies in human features
- Check for unusual textures and lighting
- Watch for irregular text or background elements