How to spot fake AI Photos
- Perception.Co
- Aug 4, 2025
- 1 min read
Updated: Jan 5
How do you know if that shocking photo in your social media feed is real — or just another AI fake?
In an era where seeing is no longer believing, digital forensics expert Hany Farid helps us navigate the growing flood of synthetic images and misinformation. Drawing on decades of experience assisting journalists, courts, and governments, Farid reveals the subtle structural flaws that often betray AI-generated visuals.
In this eye-opening TED Talk, recorded at TED2025 on April 10, Farid tackles one of the most urgent challenges of our time: how to tell what’s real in a world flooded with misinformation. As digital manipulation, deepfakes, and viral falsehoods become increasingly sophisticated, Farid breaks down the problem with clarity and urgency, showing why our usual instincts are no longer enough. He then equips the audience with four practical, accessible techniques that anyone can use to distinguish fact from fabrication, regardless of technical background. Rather than inspiring fear, the talk empowers viewers, offering concrete tools to question what they see, slow down their reactions, and think more critically about the information they consume. In doing so, Farid provides a roadmap for staying grounded, informed, and resilient in a world that often feels at war with reality itself.
