Abc13 iconAbc13Sep 5, 2026 ~2 min source read

How researchers say you can spot AI-made images and videos

University of Houston and ABC News verification sources list concrete visual cues and simple checks — like shadow physics, water behavior, and reverse image searches — that can help determine whether an image or video is real.

AI researchers share how to tell if an image or video is real or not

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Useful takeaways from this story.

Use a reverse image search to find matching angles or original sources that corroborate an image or video.

Trust your judgment: small inconsistencies in motion, lighting, or material behavior often reveal fabricated media.

The useful part

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- As AI systems get more sophisticated, it's getting harder to tell what's real and what's not, AI researchers told ABC13. "It's literally an arms race to try to stay ahead of what the next level of machinery can do," AI researcher Jaclyn Ocumpaugh with the University of Houston said. Ocumpaugh said that there are a few things you can look for that AI systems haven't yet mastered, like natural-looking shadows or water.

How it works

  • If you think an image or video is AI, one tool you can use at home is an online reverse image search, Inal said.
  • Inal said a reverse image search can corroborate what you're seeing if you find multiple angles of the image or video, or other pictures on the internet that verify it.
  • AI researchers share how to tell if an image or video is real or not.
  • ABC13 Houston Artificial Intelligence AI researchers share how to tell if an image or video is real or not By Daniela Hurtado Saturday, September 5, 2026 As AI systems get more sophisticated, it's getting...
  • "Shadows are things that you still might be able to spot with the human eye," Ocumpaugh said.

What to take from it

Ocumpaugh said those nuances can help you determine whether an image or video is real. It's up to your judgment (to try) to understand what you're seeing and (question) if it can be real," Inal said. 7 says Pappasitos' original location to close after 43 years, company says Red tide conditions detected in Bolivar Peninsula waters: TPWD Suspect wanted for allegedly sexually assaulting girl, Pct.

Details worth keeping

If you see water splashing, it doesn't really look as real as you would think a real water splash would look like." According to Ocumpaugh, in AI images or videos with water, the liquid might move slower or splash higher than it would in real life. Report a correction or typo Copyright © 2026 KTRK-TV.

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