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AI-Generated Content
AI content detection
Human vs AI content
AI content patterns
AI detectors
ARTICLE #20
Table of contents
How to detect AI-generated content? Manually and with tools
AI-Generated Content
AI content detection
Human vs AI content
AI content patterns
AI detectors
AI-Generated Content
AI content detection
Human vs AI content
AI content patterns
AI detectors
Written by:
5 min read
Updated on: March 15, 2024
Roo Xu
Chief Growth Officer
Growth Leadership, Team Collaboration, Client Impact, Customer Focus
Roo Xu
Chief Growth Officer
Growth Leadership, Team Collaboration, Client Impact, Customer Focus
Almost every day, there’s a new headline celebrating or criticising artificial intelligence. Right now, two worthy topics are AI content generators and the detectors designed to spot them. Who knows if the article you’re reading was typed by a real person or conjured by a machine?
As more people experiment with tools like ChatGPT, many are starting to ask that very question. Maybe you’ve tried an AI writing app yourself and felt the results seemed, well, too tidy and predictable. There’s often something missing—that spark of human warmth that comes from genuine experience rather than algorithmic guesswork. It’s a bit like tasting a dish that looks perfect but somehow lacks flavour.
In a perfect world, AI detectors would give us a definitive answer. But in reality, these detectors rely on language models similar to those behind tools like Claude or ChatGPT, so they’re not foolproof. You can’t just hand everything over to a bot and assume it will get it right. That’s when your own judgment comes in.
Below, let’s look at how to spot AI content on your own and how a few established detectors can help.
Almost every day, there’s a new headline celebrating or criticising artificial intelligence. Right now, two worthy topics are AI content generators and the detectors designed to spot them. Who knows if the article you’re reading was typed by a real person or conjured by a machine?
As more people experiment with tools like ChatGPT, many are starting to ask that very question. Maybe you’ve tried an AI writing app yourself and felt the results seemed, well, too tidy and predictable. There’s often something missing—that spark of human warmth that comes from genuine experience rather than algorithmic guesswork. It’s a bit like tasting a dish that looks perfect but somehow lacks flavour.
In a perfect world, AI detectors would give us a definitive answer. But in reality, these detectors rely on language models similar to those behind tools like Claude or ChatGPT, so they’re not foolproof. You can’t just hand everything over to a bot and assume it will get it right. That’s when your own judgment comes in.
Below, let’s look at how to spot AI content on your own and how a few established detectors can help.
Incorrect and outdated information
Incorrect and outdated information
AI content often appears polished, but it can be riddled with mistakes or out-of-date references. If you see factual errors, irrelevant data, or hallucinations that seem completely off-base, chances are that they are computer-generated lines.
Interestingly, statistics show that over 15% of freelance writers already use an AI tool to sharpen their work. However, an AI-driven draft can easily repeat old information, churn out plagiarism, or slip in inaccuracies. That’s a risk many businesses don’t want to take—after all, they’re after unique, well-researched, and properly optimised content.
When companies publish flawed content, it not only damages their brand image but also wastes their marketing budgets. If your blog posts sound suspiciously bland or seem to echo every other article on the internet, a machine might be the culprit.
AI content often appears polished, but it can be riddled with mistakes or out-of-date references. If you see factual errors, irrelevant data, or hallucinations that seem completely off-base, chances are that they are computer-generated lines.
Interestingly, statistics show that over 15% of freelance writers already use an AI tool to sharpen their work. However, an AI-driven draft can easily repeat old information, churn out plagiarism, or slip in inaccuracies. That’s a risk many businesses don’t want to take—after all, they’re after unique, well-researched, and properly optimised content.
When companies publish flawed content, it not only damages their brand image but also wastes their marketing budgets. If your blog posts sound suspiciously bland or seem to echo every other article on the internet, a machine might be the culprit.
Lack of depth and personal touch
One huge shortcoming of AI tools is their inability to add genuine insights or unique perspectives. They’re designed to spot patterns in existing text, and then remix those patterns into something that can look coherent. But there’s a difference between stringing words together and crafting a narrative with real thought behind it.
AI-generated writing may seem passable at first glance, but it’s often missing the critical thinking and investigative angles that an experienced journalist or copywriter brings. Human writers delve into a subject, interview experts, and share anecdotes. That real-world spark can’t be replicated by a machine, no matter how clever the algorithm.
One huge shortcoming of AI tools is their inability to add genuine insights or unique perspectives. They’re designed to spot patterns in existing text, and then remix those patterns into something that can look coherent. But there’s a difference between stringing words together and crafting a narrative with real thought behind it.
AI-generated writing may seem passable at first glance, but it’s often missing the critical thinking and investigative angles that an experienced journalist or copywriter brings. Human writers delve into a subject, interview experts, and share anecdotes. That real-world spark can’t be replicated by a machine, no matter how clever the algorithm.
Overly formal or mechanical language
Many AI systems rely on heavier vocabulary than the average writer would use. Words like “implement,” “ascertain,” or “elucidate” creep in far too often. Yes, some of us might say “utilise” now and then, but everyday conversation leans towards simpler terms like “use” or “explain.”
You can also catch AI when it tries to mimic slang or idioms. It may get them slightly wrong or drop them into a sentence in a way that feels forced. If you see an expression that seems oddly placed, that’s a sign it might have come from a machine.
Some folks have noticed that AI—ChatGPT in particular—tends to lean heavily on flashy phrases and fancy transitions. Although words like “furthermore” and “moreover” do pop up in professional writing, it’s not normal to see them in every other sentence. If content reads like a formal essay from start to finish, consider the possibility it was machine-made.
Many AI systems rely on heavier vocabulary than the average writer would use. Words like “implement,” “ascertain,” or “elucidate” creep in far too often. Yes, some of us might say “utilise” now and then, but everyday conversation leans towards simpler terms like “use” or “explain.”
You can also catch AI when it tries to mimic slang or idioms. It may get them slightly wrong or drop them into a sentence in a way that feels forced. If you see an expression that seems oddly placed, that’s a sign it might have come from a machine.
Some folks have noticed that AI—ChatGPT in particular—tends to lean heavily on flashy phrases and fancy transitions. Although words like “furthermore” and “moreover” do pop up in professional writing, it’s not normal to see them in every other sentence. If content reads like a formal essay from start to finish, consider the possibility it was machine-made.
Predictable patterns (e.g., common phrases)
AI isn’t perfect or intuitive—it’s basically replicating what it has learned from people. When you spot repeated words, formulas, or sentence structures, that’s a tip-off that a bot might be doing the talking. Another giveaway is the overuse of certain emojis or exclamation points to sound “human,” which often comes across as spammy.
Certain AI-driven SEO tools may also stuff the same keyword into every other line, hoping to game the search engines. That tactic is off-putting for real readers and is a strong indicator of an artificially produced copy.
Similarly, AI outputs often include transitional words at regular intervals, almost like clockwork. You’ll see “hence,” “therefore,” and “additionally” stuck in many paragraphs, even where they don’t quite fit. Humans use transitions too, but not in such a consistent, automated pattern.
AI isn’t perfect or intuitive—it’s basically replicating what it has learned from people. When you spot repeated words, formulas, or sentence structures, that’s a tip-off that a bot might be doing the talking. Another giveaway is the overuse of certain emojis or exclamation points to sound “human,” which often comes across as spammy.
Certain AI-driven SEO tools may also stuff the same keyword into every other line, hoping to game the search engines. That tactic is off-putting for real readers and is a strong indicator of an artificially produced copy.
Similarly, AI outputs often include transitional words at regular intervals, almost like clockwork. You’ll see “hence,” “therefore,” and “additionally” stuck in many paragraphs, even where they don’t quite fit. Humans use transitions too, but not in such a consistent, automated pattern.
Superficial treatment of complex topics
Curious if a piece was drafted by a person or a machine? Look at how it tackles complicated ideas. AI is good at pulling facts, but it struggles to interpret those facts in a meaningful way. You might see a list of data points that lack any broader analysis or genuine critical thinking.
By contrast, human writing often challenges assumptions or includes unique viewpoints. Machines can spit out bullet points with ease but will struggle to incorporate real-life experiences or original arguments.
Also, watch out for made-up facts and figures. Sometimes AI “invents” numbers and passes them off as real, so double-check suspicious claims with a quick search or an external source.
Curious if a piece was drafted by a person or a machine? Look at how it tackles complicated ideas. AI is good at pulling facts, but it struggles to interpret those facts in a meaningful way. You might see a list of data points that lack any broader analysis or genuine critical thinking.
By contrast, human writing often challenges assumptions or includes unique viewpoints. Machines can spit out bullet points with ease but will struggle to incorporate real-life experiences or original arguments.
Also, watch out for made-up facts and figures. Sometimes AI “invents” numbers and passes them off as real, so double-check suspicious claims with a quick search or an external source.
Lack of credible references and citations
It’s not unusual to catch AI creating random references or slapping in citations that don’t exist. This happens because AI systems can’t always distinguish real research from fictional footnotes. If you see a reference that leads nowhere, it’s a major red flag.
And while these tools can comb through massive amounts of historical data, they often fall behind on more recent developments. If you’re reading something about a topic that’s changing fast—tech, health, or finance, for instance—make sure the content is tied to legitimate, up-to-date sources.
Accuracy matters, not just for your readers but also for your professional reputation. Relying on misleading or outdated sources damages your credibility, so never let unverified text slip through just because it sounds polished.
It’s not unusual to catch AI creating random references or slapping in citations that don’t exist. This happens because AI systems can’t always distinguish real research from fictional footnotes. If you see a reference that leads nowhere, it’s a major red flag.
And while these tools can comb through massive amounts of historical data, they often fall behind on more recent developments. If you’re reading something about a topic that’s changing fast—tech, health, or finance, for instance—make sure the content is tied to legitimate, up-to-date sources.
Accuracy matters, not just for your readers but also for your professional reputation. Relying on misleading or outdated sources damages your credibility, so never let unverified text slip through just because it sounds polished.
5 tested AI content detectors that are getting better every day
Keeping an eye out for subtle clues is the most straightforward method. Yet it’s also useful to use AI detectors to see if the content was crafted by a person or a tool. The internet is full of both free and paid options, each with varying degrees of reliability. Below are five we’ve tried ourselves. Use them with caution, though—none are perfect, and some can lead you astray.
1. Writer.com AI Content Detector
Writer.com is better known for its AI-powered writing services aimed at business teams, but it also provides an AI detector. You can paste a URL or text snippet into their interface and click “Analyse Text” to see what percentage might be machine-generated.
Pros
No sign-up is required for the detector
Simple to use and displays results instantly
Cons
It doesn’t highlight which specific parts are AI-generated
Accuracy can be hit-or-miss
2. GPTZero
GPTZero measures what it calls perplexity and burstiness. Perplexity checks how random the text is to an AI model, and burstiness looks at whether that randomness changes over time because human writing is more varied.
You can sign up for a free account to check up to 5,000 words at a time or skip creating an account for a quick demo. It’s particularly tuned to detect GPT-based content.
Pros
Free to use and does not always require signing up
Helpful for GPT-specific text detection
Cons
Lacks built-in plagiarism or fact-checking features
Doesn’t have a built-in readability checker
3. ZeroGPT
ZeroGPT checks whether the text comes from an AI tool like ChatGPT, Google Bard, or a real person. It relies on what it calls “DeepAnalyse” technology. ZeroGPT boasts an accuracy rate of over 98% and claims to support all major languages.
Pros
Has processed over 10 million articles and texts for AI detection
Simple interface: paste your text, click “Detect Text,” and see the percentage of AI content
Promises privacy by not saving your text
Cons
No features to tidy or edit text post-check
May still return false positives or negatives now and then
4. Originality.ai
Originality AI is a popular choice if you need both AI detection and a plagiarism scanner. Its readability checks can be helpful, though it occasionally misclassifies human writing. Like everything else on this list, it’s not foolproof.
Pros
Usually reliable results
Flexible pricing, with free tests available
Cons
Only supports English
Doesn’t always spot sophisticated rewriting from certain rephrasing apps
5. QuillBot
QuillBot is known for its AI-powered paraphraser but also includes an AI detection feature. It claims to work with GPT-4, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and more.
Pros
No sign-up is needed for AI detection
Offers extensions for Microsoft Word, macOS, and Google Chrome
Includes a free language translator
Cons
Accuracy can swing between 45% and 80%
The results may vary each time you run a check
Keeping an eye out for subtle clues is the most straightforward method. Yet it’s also useful to use AI detectors to see if the content was crafted by a person or a tool. The internet is full of both free and paid options, each with varying degrees of reliability. Below are five we’ve tried ourselves. Use them with caution, though—none are perfect, and some can lead you astray.
1. Writer.com AI Content Detector
Writer.com is better known for its AI-powered writing services aimed at business teams, but it also provides an AI detector. You can paste a URL or text snippet into their interface and click “Analyse Text” to see what percentage might be machine-generated.
Pros
No sign-up is required for the detector
Simple to use and displays results instantly
Cons
It doesn’t highlight which specific parts are AI-generated
Accuracy can be hit-or-miss
2. GPTZero
GPTZero measures what it calls perplexity and burstiness. Perplexity checks how random the text is to an AI model, and burstiness looks at whether that randomness changes over time because human writing is more varied.
You can sign up for a free account to check up to 5,000 words at a time or skip creating an account for a quick demo. It’s particularly tuned to detect GPT-based content.
Pros
Free to use and does not always require signing up
Helpful for GPT-specific text detection
Cons
Lacks built-in plagiarism or fact-checking features
Doesn’t have a built-in readability checker
3. ZeroGPT
ZeroGPT checks whether the text comes from an AI tool like ChatGPT, Google Bard, or a real person. It relies on what it calls “DeepAnalyse” technology. ZeroGPT boasts an accuracy rate of over 98% and claims to support all major languages.
Pros
Has processed over 10 million articles and texts for AI detection
Simple interface: paste your text, click “Detect Text,” and see the percentage of AI content
Promises privacy by not saving your text
Cons
No features to tidy or edit text post-check
May still return false positives or negatives now and then
4. Originality.ai
Originality AI is a popular choice if you need both AI detection and a plagiarism scanner. Its readability checks can be helpful, though it occasionally misclassifies human writing. Like everything else on this list, it’s not foolproof.
Pros
Usually reliable results
Flexible pricing, with free tests available
Cons
Only supports English
Doesn’t always spot sophisticated rewriting from certain rephrasing apps
5. QuillBot
QuillBot is known for its AI-powered paraphraser but also includes an AI detection feature. It claims to work with GPT-4, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and more.
Pros
No sign-up is needed for AI detection
Offers extensions for Microsoft Word, macOS, and Google Chrome
Includes a free language translator
Cons
Accuracy can swing between 45% and 80%
The results may vary each time you run a check
Is AI-generated content bad for SEO?
A common worry among businesses is that AI-generated articles might hurt their search rankings and drain their marketing budgets. Google has clarified that AI content isn’t automatically penalised, as long as it’s genuinely useful, original, and relevant. The main focus is whether the piece meets quality standards, not the method used to write it.
Google also follows a policy where automated content intended solely to boost rankings is considered spam. Put simply, if you’re using AI content ethically—providing valuable information, citing sources, and staying current—there’s less reason to worry.
The EEAT framework (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) continues to guide how Google evaluates pages, regardless of whether a human, an AI, or a mix of both contributed.
A common worry among businesses is that AI-generated articles might hurt their search rankings and drain their marketing budgets. Google has clarified that AI content isn’t automatically penalised, as long as it’s genuinely useful, original, and relevant. The main focus is whether the piece meets quality standards, not the method used to write it.
Google also follows a policy where automated content intended solely to boost rankings is considered spam. Put simply, if you’re using AI content ethically—providing valuable information, citing sources, and staying current—there’s less reason to worry.
The EEAT framework (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) continues to guide how Google evaluates pages, regardless of whether a human, an AI, or a mix of both contributed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Google identify AI-generated content?
Yes. Google uses multiple methods to spot whether text is AI-generated, even if the material seems accurate. It’s constantly refining its systems to detect artificially produced articles.
How to pass the AI content detector?
If you want to reduce the likelihood of detection, vary your sentences and choice of words. Mix short, punchy lines with more complex structures. Add a personal angle wherever possible and avoid repetitive statements or a uniform style.
Does Google penalise AI content in 2024?
Google penalises low-quality or deceptive text, no matter who (or what) wrote it. AI content that meets EEAT criteria can still rank, as long as it’s original, trustworthy, and helpful.
Final thoughts
Spotting AI-generated text might feel like detective work at first, but the clues are there. If you combine online tools with your own judgment, you’ll have a decent shot at figuring out whether a human or a machine did the writing. Just remember that none of these detectors are 100% accurate.
AI-driven writing will keep improving, so it’s wise to stay alert. A bit of editing and fact-checking can go a long way, ensuring your final draft stays fresh and packed with authentic human insight. After all, sometimes the best writing happens when real people bring their own stories, humour, and perspectives to the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Google identify AI-generated content?
Yes. Google uses multiple methods to spot whether text is AI-generated, even if the material seems accurate. It’s constantly refining its systems to detect artificially produced articles.
How to pass the AI content detector?
If you want to reduce the likelihood of detection, vary your sentences and choice of words. Mix short, punchy lines with more complex structures. Add a personal angle wherever possible and avoid repetitive statements or a uniform style.
Does Google penalise AI content in 2024?
Google penalises low-quality or deceptive text, no matter who (or what) wrote it. AI content that meets EEAT criteria can still rank, as long as it’s original, trustworthy, and helpful.
Final thoughts
Spotting AI-generated text might feel like detective work at first, but the clues are there. If you combine online tools with your own judgment, you’ll have a decent shot at figuring out whether a human or a machine did the writing. Just remember that none of these detectors are 100% accurate.
AI-driven writing will keep improving, so it’s wise to stay alert. A bit of editing and fact-checking can go a long way, ensuring your final draft stays fresh and packed with authentic human insight. After all, sometimes the best writing happens when real people bring their own stories, humour, and perspectives to the page.
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Click to copy
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