In today’s digital age, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about incredible advancements in various fields, including image generation. However, along with the benefits, there’s also the risk of misuse. If not identified, fake AI-generated images, often called “deepfakes,” can deceive and mislead. This guide will explore spotting these fraudulent images and safeguarding against their potential harm.

1. Understand the Technology:

Before spotting fake AI-generated images, it’s essential to grasp how they’re created. AI algorithms, particularly Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), are trained on vast datasets to generate realistic images. These images can range from lifelike portraits to landscapes and even entirely fabricated scenes.

2. Check for Unrealistic Features:

One telltale sign of a fake AI-generated image is the presence of unrealistic features. Look closely at the image for any lighting, shadows, or reflection inconsistencies. Sometimes, AI may struggle to accurately render these elements, leading to discrepancies that give away their artificial nature.

3. Examine Facial Details:

Pay close attention to the facial details if the image includes a human face. In fake AI-generated photos, you may notice abnormalities such as mismatched facial expressions, unnatural skin tones, or distorted features. These imperfections are often subtle but can be critical indicators of manipulation.

4. Look for Unnatural Artifacts:

AI algorithms may introduce artifacts or anomalies that wouldn’t occur in real photographs during the generation process. Watch for strange patterns, pixelation, or blurred areas, especially around the edges of objects or subjects in the image.

5. Verify Context and Source:

When encountering an unfamiliar or suspicious image, take the time to verify its context and source. Look for corroborating evidence, such as additional photos from different angles or reputable sources that can vouch for its authenticity. Reverse image search tools can also help identify if the image has been circulated before or if similar versions exist.

6. Analyze Metadata:

Below is a deeper dive. Every browser has an inspect feature. You right-click and select inspect on your browser. You will see a lot of details, including code. You can then use your mouse to move over the article, including the image, and find some juicy details.   You have to suss out these details, which can be confusing and complicated to understand. But if you find image details, you can see image details.

Metadata embedded within digital images can provide valuable insights into their origins. Use metadata analysis tools to examine the creation date, camera information, and editing history. Discrepancies or inconsistencies in this Metadata may indicate manipulation or fabrication.

 As AI advances, so too do the capabilities of generating fake images. However, by familiarizing yourself with the telltale signs and employing vigilant scrutiny, you can effectively spot fake AI-generated images and mitigate their risks. Remember to approach digital content critically and utilize available tools and techniques to verify authenticity. Together, we can navigate the evolving landscape of AI-generated media with confidence and integrity.

Meta (Facebook) has rolled out its latest innovation, Meta AI, an AI-powered chatbot integrated across its social media and messaging platform suite. Like ChatGPT and Gemini, this tool boasts text generation and image creation capabilities. However, what sets it apart is its persistent presence—it cannot be disabled, contrary to initial assurances from the AI chatbot.

Welcome to Facebook—Your New AI Assistant Will Help You?

Recently introduced, Meta’s AI assistant, powered by Llama 3 LLM, has become an inescapable fixture for users across various Meta apps. Prompting users with the invitation to “ask Meta AI anything,” this feature greets users upon accessing the search bar on Instagram and Facebook, as well as in chat interfaces on Messenger and WhatsApp.

Meta (Facebook) is spending a lot of Money on AI

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, proudly announced during a first-quarter earnings call the company’s ambition to establish “the most used and best AI assistant in the world.” Despite such aspirations, not all users are thrilled about this development. Some liken the imposition of Meta AI to Apple’s infamous forced download of a U2 album onto everyone’s iPhone.

Business Insider delved into Meta AI’s functionalities and competitive landscape among other chatbots and explored whether users can avoid its omnipresence.

Functionality-wise, Meta AI mirrors the capabilities of its AI chatbot peers, offering assistance across a spectrum of topics from general inquiries to more nuanced queries. Users can engage with Meta AI seamlessly within their feeds, chats, and searches, with conversation histories conveniently accessible within Messenger and Instagram.

Everyone Loves a Freebee!

Moreover, Meta AI is touted as “the most intelligent AI assistant you can use for free” by Meta, and it’s available in a dozen countries beyond the US. It facilitates the creation of AI-generated images and GIFs, enhancing user interactions within the platform.

A notable distinction of Meta AI is its integration directly within social media apps, eliminating the need for users to switch between standalone applications. While other chatbots like ChatGPT require separate installations, Meta AI marks the first instance of such technology seamlessly woven into multiple social media platforms.

Privacy Concerns?

Contrary to concerns about privacy, Meta AI operates independently of users’ social media accounts and personal information. For instance, queries about one’s Instagram followers prompt the AI to request the user’s username rather than accessing the information directly.

However, unlike chatbots that offer users the flexibility to activate or deactivate them at will, Meta AI cannot be turned off. Despite initial misinformation suggesting otherwise, Meta has clarified that turning off the chatbot is not an option, leaving users without an escape route if they do not choose to use this new feature.

If you have grandchildren or teenagers and have been paying attention, you’ve likely noticed the growing concern about social media and its potential negative impact on teens’ mental well-being. This is not a passing trend but a pressing issue that demands our attention. Perhaps you’ve heard of Johnathan Haidt, a social psychologist and author whose studies primarily revolve around morality. Recently, he has turned his attention to the alarming issue of teens’ addiction to social media and the potential harm it can cause to their mental health.

In his book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness (2024), Haidt, a respected authority in the field of moral psychology, espouses the ill effects of social media in the last decade and how it is shaping the minds of our children. While not backed by empirical evidence, his thoughts and writings have motivated many people to support social media regulation.

Anxiety Induced Platforms

While Haidt has discussed issues of anxiety and depression among young people, and the cause of this, he believes, is the constant comparison and validation-seeking behavior encouraged by social media platforms and, to a broader extent, the addiction to social media that distracts from face-to-face interactions, hobbies, and healthy development. It is unclear if he is a proponent of social media regulation; however, his ideas have spurred an interest among parents and politicians.

Even though Haidt does not apply the scientific method to answer his hypothesis on teen discontent and the adverse effects caused by social media, he has hit a nerve resonating in the minds of parents, teachers, and politicians that something must be done.

Does Social Media Lead to Mental Illness?

If you search the web about the dangers of social media, you will find that there are many more articles in favor of saying that social media harms teens’ mental health than it benefits their self-esteem.  According to Candice L. Odgers, Director of Research and Faculty Development, School of Social Ecology at the University of Virginia, stated, “Johnathan Haidt is telling a scary story about children’s development that many parents are primed to believe.” Odgers says Haidt’s belief that digital technologies are rewiring our children’s brains is not backed by science.

The trouble with all this? Despite these dire warnings, study after study has failed to uncover robust evidence that social media harms adolescents’ mental health. The Surgeon General acknowledged the lack of evidence in the 2023 advisory, stating that “robust independent safety analyses on the impact of social media on youth have not yet been conducted”—but that isn’t what policymakers, teachers, and parents are hearing. Instead, they hear that social media is the cause of the youth mental health crisis and that we should be scared when young people use it. ³

What is the Answer?

There is no answer to satisfy parents, educators, and politicians inclusively. Many teachers want cell phones banned from the classrooms. However, the unique juxtaposition is the very thing they want to be prohibited helps kids find solutions to bullying and harassment by accessing mental health information crucial to their development.
Very real concerns exist about kids’ mental health, and they are not being monitored. People often look to government and education to make policy and solve problems. It would be great if it were so easy. Perhaps the most beneficial way is for parents to get more involved in their teens’ use of social media—not by banning their use, but simply by being educated about what platforms their kids are using, who they are talking to, and what they are using it for. Most parents/caregivers don’t understand what they are doing and why they are on them continually. Having simple conversations and looking over their shoulder to see what they are doing will go a long way, not like a creepy stalker, but as a genuinely interested parent who wants to learn.

There is a great website with lots of information on how to keep your kids/grandkids safe.  It also provides tips and learning for parents/caregivers on all things tech. ConnectSafely was founded in 2005 by technology journalist Larry Magid, founder of SafeKids.com, and Anne Collier of NetFamilyNews.