Have you ever paused to wonder if the article you’re reading was crafted by a human or AI? In the age of generative AI, this question is becoming increasingly relevant. The advent of AI technologies like ChatGPT and other advanced models has revolutionized the way we approach writing and generating content. As AI becomes more sophisticated, it will play an increasingly significant role in content creation, revealing both opportunities and challenges.
In this post, we’ll explore how to identify AI-generated content in your everyday life. By understanding the nuances and characteristics of AI-written content, you can better appreciate the unique qualities that human writers bring to the table and ensure the authenticity of the information you consume.
Why do people use AI to create content?
AI is becoming an invaluable tool for content creators, providing numerous advantages that enhance the writing process—the most obvious being speed and efficiency. It can produce content almost instantly, freeing up time for specialists to focus on other tasks and projects. For example, AI-driven tools like Jasper or Copy.ai can generate an article draft in minutes, a task that might take a human writer several hours.
Further, AI can counteract writer’s block by generating ideas, outlines, and drafts, making it easier to start the writing process and break through creative barriers to maintain productivity.
Despite its impressive capabilities, however, AI still requires boundaries and guidance from humans. It can synthesize information and provide data-informed solutions, but the human touch is essential to refine and direct its output. In this sense, AI is not here to replace human writers but to augment their work and help them do more with their time.
The growing importance of AI content detection
AI content detection is the process of determining whether a piece of text, or even art, was generated by AI or by a human. This practice is becoming increasingly vital as AI continues to evolve and integrate into various fields, including sectors that rely heavily on the accuracy and authority of human-generated content, such as healthcare and finance. In these areas, the precision and reliability of information are essential, and any inaccuracies could lead to significant consequences.
With its ability to uphold the integrity of information, AI content detection is also helping to combat the spread of false information in the news. In 2023, a Forbes Advisor survey found that 76% of consumers are concerned with false or misleading content from artificial intelligence, emphasizing the need for effective detection methods to identify AI-generated misinformation.
In addition, AI content detection plays a role in avoiding copyright infringement or plagiarism. AI tools don’t inherently recognize the boundaries of intellectual property, which can result in the unintentional use of someone else’s work. By identifying machine-made content, organizations can better manage and mitigate these risks.
Google’s stance on AI-generated content
It has become apparent that Google has no intrinsic opposition to content created by AI—as long as it adheres to specific guidelines aimed at maintaining the quality and integrity of information on the web. According to the search giant, its primary concern is content that misleads users or manipulates search rankings, which violates its spam policies. That could include cloaking, where different content is presented to users and search engines, and keyword stuffing, which involves filling a webpage with excessive keywords to manipulate its ranking. Another issue is scaled content abuse, where large amounts of duplicated content are created, offering little to no value to users.
Google’s guidance about AI-generated content emphasizes that it should meet the attributes of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). These attributes ensure that content, regardless of its origin, maintains high standards and provides genuine value to readers. Google ultimately focuses on rewarding quality content, regardless of whether it is produced by humans or AI, encouraging content creators to focus on producing valuable, informative, and engaging content.
Characteristics of content created by AI
AI-derived content, while functional, often exhibits certain characteristics that distinguishes it from human-written text. Recognizing these traits can help identify the content’s true author.
- Repetitive and redundant language: Due to limitations in fully understanding context, AI might inadvertently repeat phrases or ideas
- Inconsistent use of facts and data: AI might generate content with inaccuracies or unsupported claims, as it doesn’t always verify the sources of information. This inconsistency can lead to misinformation, particularly if the AI pulls from less reliable sources.
- Uneven flow and focus: Maintaining a clear narrative or logical progression can be challenging for AI, resulting in disjointed sections that do not connect seamlessly. The content might appear to jump from one topic to another without smooth transitions.
- Overly perfect grammar and syntax: AI content tends to have flawless grammar and syntax, but often lacks the natural errors or colloquialisms that humans use, making it feel unnatural.
- Generic nature: AI content often lacks personal touch, unique insights, or subject matter expertise. It cannot provide personal anecdotes, subjective opinions, or a deep understanding of nuanced topics, making the content less engaging and more superficial compared to human-authored text.
By being aware of these characteristics, readers can better discern content generated by AI and appreciate the distinct value that human writers bring to the table.
Tools to spot non-human content
Identifying AI-generated content can be challenging, but several tools have been designed to assist in this process. These tools use advanced algorithms and machine learning to analyze text and detect patterns indicative of AI authorship.
- AI content detectors: Originality.ai, CopyleaksGPTZero, Crossplag, and others use machine learning to identify text that was most likely written by AI. They analyze various aspects of the content, such as syntax, grammar, and structure, to determine its origin.
- Grammar and style checkers: Tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid can identify inconsistencies or unnatural phrasing that may suggest AI authorship. These tools highlight overly perfect grammar and repetitive language, which are common traits in generative AI’s content.
- Fact checkers: Tools like Snopes can be used to verify the information within text. Articles created using AI can sometimes include inaccuracies or unsupported claims, and these fact-checking tools help identify and correct such issues.
Using these tools, content creators and readers alike can better detect AI-generated content and ensure the authenticity and soundness of the information they encounter.
Adding the personal touch
While there are many advantages to quickly generating content with AI, the resulting output generally needs at least some human editing to ensure it resonates with audiences. Whether content is “humanized” as part of a quick review or an in-depth redraft, the editor should:
- Adopt an audience-first mindset: The initial draft generated by AI can serve as a foundation, but human insight is essential to tailor content to specific audience needs.
- Rewrite overused phrases: Make the language more natural and engaging by rewriting common phrases and sentence structures AI tools tend to overuse.
- Add personal examples and experiences: Form stronger connections with audiences by incorporating personal anecdotes or case studies.
- Demonstrate authority and credibility: Cite reputable sources or include expert opinions to strengthen the content’s reliability.
At DAC, we understand that content isn’t about seeing what sticks; it’s about putting the audience first. That’s why our approach combines AI capabilities with human expertise—backed by persona data and topical research—ensuring that our content is both innovative and deeply engaging.
Reach out to us to learn more about our content strategy services and how we integrate AI for optimal results.
