57% Can’t Spot AI Pictures. Can You? – Take the Quiz

Early AI pictures weren’t exactly subtle. They almost always botched human hands, for one. Physics-defying architecture and nonsensical letters were other telltale signs that you weren’t looking at real photos.

But as image generators improve, it’s not as easy to tell the difference between AI versus real photos. That’s a problem, because according to Clutch data, more than half of people can’t currently identify them. And if you don’t know how to spot them, you might get duped by fake product photos or ads.

Ready to test your skills? Try our quick AI photo quiz for yourself, then scroll down for the results.

Can You Spot AI Imagery? Take the Quiz

While AI pictures are more convincing than ever, it’s still possible to spot dupes. Answer these seven questions to find out if you can tell the difference between AI vs real images.

Analyzing Quiz Results: Which AI Pictures Did People Correctly Identify?

If you got a perfect score, you've got an elite AI spidey-sense. But if you didn’t answer every question correctly, you’re not alone. Before taking this test, 66% of customers said they were confident they could spot AI imagery. But that dropped to 56% after completing the quiz.

Here’s why it’s so tricky to distinguish AI versus real photos.

Landscapes: Stunning or Too Perfect?

Everyone loves jaw-dropping nature photography, but sometimes those epic shots are too good to be true.

Image One

With its fluffy clouds and realistic colors, this image almost looks like something you’d see outside your own window. Maybe that’s why the responses were evenly divided:

• AI-generated (correct answer): 39.90%
• Real / Not AI-generated: 39.90%
• Not sure: 20.20%

Takeaway: Even simple scenery creates confusion.

Look closely, though, and you’ll see that the lower clouds have suspiciously flat bottoms, with more clouds crammed beneath them. And the trees in the bottom left corner look oddly blob-like. Definitely AI.

Image Two

Maybe people were more wary when they got to Image Two, or those gently rolling hills looked a little too perfect. Either way, this question duped more test takers:

• AI-generated: 50.37%
• Real / Not AI-generated (correct answer): 33.67%
• Not sure: 15.96%

Takeaway: Natural details like fields are surprisingly deceptive.

This is definitely a tricky one, but there are a few clues that it’s real. The most obvious hint is the wheat plants closest to the camera, which are incredibly detailed and consistent. AI image generators often struggle to mimic natural textures.

Zoom in on the horizon, too. The trees and rolling hills have irregular shapes, just like you’d see if you were strolling around the farm in person. AI tends to make those sorts of background details unnaturally uniform or blurry.

Stepping Into the Uncanny Valley: Real vs. AI-Generated People

When it comes to sizing up photos of humans, our test-takers were more accurate. That makes sense. You look at other people all the time, so it’s easier to instinctively spot those slightly uncanny, AI-generated details.

Image Three

If you spend a lot of time on LinkedIn, you may be tempted to spruce up your profile with an AI headshot. However, there's a good chance your connections will be able to spot that it isn't real. Many of our test-takers correctly identified the origins of this headshot:

• AI-generated (correct answer): 50.37%
• Real / Not AI-generated: 34.16%
• Not sure: 15.46%

Takeaway: AI image generators still struggle with human anatomy.

Pay attention to how far away the man’s right wrist is from his hand. He’s either setting a world record for the longest wrist, or, more accurately, it’s AI-generated.

Unlike real photos, AI headshots also tend to be flawless, as though they’ve been overly edited. The man’s hair looks perfectly smooth, with none of the flyaways you’d see in an actual outdoor photo. Plus, his beard and hair are oddly multi-colored, with random patches of white and gray.

The biggest giveaway, though, is the wrinkles. If you zoom in, you’ll quickly notice that they don’t look like they’ve been shaped by natural facial expressions. After all, most people don’t have deep creases running from under their eyes all the way down the side of their face.

Image Four

On the other hand, Image Four looks much more natural. Here’s how quiz takers voted on it:

• AI-generated 27.68%
• Real / Not AI-generated (correct answer) 58.60%
• Not sure 13.72%

Takeaway: Real photos of human faces are filled with natural flaws and quirks.

This woman’s hair is frizzy and full of movement, as though she’s been hiking all day in the wind. It’s a stark contrast to the perfectly smooth hair in the previous photo. Another green flag is her teeth, which aren’t perfectly even and straight like AI-generated smiles. And her skin has plenty of natural texture around the mouth and eyes. So far, AI can’t convincingly recreate these kinds of authentic details.

Image Five

We get another close-up of a woman’s face in Image Five, but this one isn’t real. Despite this, it tripped up more people than the previous question:

• AI-generated (correct): 31.92%
• Real / Not AI-generated: 51.62%
• Not sure: 16.46%

Takeaway: This is a strong example of how lifestyle AI pictures slip under the radar.

At first glance, this photo looks totally convincing. There are no surreal hand distortions, and her lips are textured like a real woman’s. But those fingernails might be too uniform, and those eyebrows are impeccably brushed. Most people also don’t have such perfectly spaced freckles across their entire face. The verdict: AI.

Side-by-Side Challenges: Spotting Subtle Details

Comparing AI vs real images can help you train your brain to pick up on sneaky differences.

Hands Typing on a Keyboard

Okay, so you already know that hands are AI’s kryptonite. Here’s how people guessed which close-up image was AI:

• Image 1: 56.11%
• Image 2 (correct answer): 43.89%

Takeaway: Hands remain one of the hardest features for AI images to get right, but people still struggle to tell.

It mostly comes down to texture. The woman’s hands have realistic wrinkles around the knuckles, where the fingers naturally bend. On the other hand, the back of the man’s nearer hand is weirdly scaly, as though the AI generator confused alligator and human skin. And why would anyone be wearing two watches?

Skincare Product Photos

While comparing images of humans can be tricky, AI-generated product photos are less challenging. The majority of people correctly identified the AI image:

• Image 1 (correct answer): 70.57%
• Image 2: 29.43%

Takeaway: Artificial product photos are often easier to detect.

The second image has lots of different textures and colors, which all look realistic. On the other hand, the shadows in the first visual don’t make sense, especially for the fronds on the right side. The liquid inside the bottle is also a clue. Wouldn’t any air bubbles show up in the center of the bottle, not on the side? 

Key Takeaways

• 15% to 20% of people answered “not sure” when guessing between AI vs real photos.  Clearly, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about how to identify these images.
• AI is getting better at replicating human imagery each day. For instance, only around 32% could correctly identify that the close-up of the woman rubbing lotion on her face is AI-generated.
• 84% of customers want brands to disclose AI imagery. If your audience can’t trust that they’re looking at real photos, they may lose trust in your business. Plus, AI photos can spread misinformation about your brand, like the too-perfect cosmetic bottle that may look much different in person.

Final Thoughts: Learning How To Detect AI Imagery Takes Practice

AI pictures are becoming more convincing, but sharp-eyed viewers can still pick up on subtle tells. Odd textures, shadows, and natural features are just a few red flags to look for.

Of course, AI imagery isn’t inherently bad. Over four out of five (82%) customers are open to seeing AI photos, but context matters. Want to show a dragon perched on your building? AI away. For images of humans or products, though, many people still prefer the real thing.

For marketers and business owners, transparency is key. Always disclose when you’ve used AI-generated imagery and why. For example, you might use AI photos for products that don’t exist yet to help your audience see your vision. By explaining your rationale, customers are less likely to feel like you’re trying to dupe or manipulate them.

Can your friends and co-workers spot AI visuals? Share your results, and challenge them to take the quiz themselves. 

About the Author

Jeanette Godreau Senior Content Marketing Specialist at Clutch

Jeanette Godreau crafts in-depth content on web design, graphic design, and branding to help B2B buyers make confident decisions on Clutch.  

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