AI Experiment

How to Spot if the Article You’re Reading Was AI-Generated

The Ethics of AI-Generated Content: How to Protect Yourself From Misinformation

This image was created using an AI image creation program.

This story was written with the assistance of an AI writing program.

As the use of AI in content creation becomes more widespread, readers need to be able to identify whether the articles they’re reading were generated by a machine or written by a human. After all, knowing the source of the content can help readers evaluate its credibility and trustworthiness.

Here are a few telltale signs that an article was generated by AI:

1. The article lacks a personal touch or unique perspective. One of the key advantages of AI-generated content is its ability to produce large volumes of material quickly and efficiently. However, this efficiency often comes at the cost of personalization and originality. If an article feels generic or lacks a clear point of view, it may have been generated by a machine.
2. The writing is flawless but lacks personality. AI-generated content is often free of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. However, this perfection can sometimes make the writing feel robotic and lacking in character. If you’re reading an article that’s well-written but feels a bit soulless, it may be the work of a machine.
3. The article is heavy on facts and light on opinions. AI-generated content is often based on data and information, rather than personal experience or opinion. If an article is packed with facts and figures but lacks a personal perspective or emotional connection, it may be the work of a machine.
4. The content is repetitive or formulaic. AI algorithms are often designed to follow a specific pattern or formula in touch with consistent and predictable content. If an article feels repetitive or formulaic, it may have been generated by a machine.

If you’re unsure whether an article was generated by AI, the best way to find out is to do some research. Look for information about the author or the publication, and see if there is any evidence that the article was created using AI. In many cases, the source of the content will be clearly stated, so you can easily determine whether it was written by a human or a machine.

In conclusion, being able to spot AI-generated content is important for readers who want to evaluate the credibility and trustworthiness of the articles they’re reading. By looking for the telltale signs of AI-generated content, you can avoid falling for fake news or biased information, and make informed decisions about what you read.

One more thing

This image was created using an AI image creation program.

I admit to having cheated a little. Let’s take a look at this screenshot:

This short text was written using ChatGPT. I find it amusing to ask an AI to explain how to recognize text written by an AI. I was also curious to compare the result with a post on the same topic written by a human. Before continuing, I recommend reading Waleed Rikab, PhD’s post, “How to tell if an article was written by a human or an AI”.

Well, let’s compare the two versions now.

| AI (ChatGPT)                                             | Umano (Waleed Rikab)             |
| -------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| The article lacks a personal touch or unique perspective | A Lack of personal perspective   |
| The writing is flawless but lacks personality            |                                  |
| The content is repetitive or formulaic                   | Formulaic sequencing of ideas    |
| The article is heavy on facts and light on opinions      | Lack of citations and references |
|                                                          | Brevity                          |
|                                                          | Mundane or false statements      |

I find it interesting how the two posts are quite similar and overlap. This raises some concerns. If an AI can already write a post so well, what will happen in a few years? The network is already full of false information, how will it be possible to defend oneself from an AI that can write well-written and convincing posts? And if the AI can write convincing posts, how will it be possible to know if the article we are reading is true or false?

I think it’s time to start thinking about how to improve our critical thinking, both personally and as a human species.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more.

Chatting with ChatGPT

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