AI Believe it or Not

By Crystal Nolen

Evaluate AI Outputs

Poll

Which of the options below do you use to help you know if something is true or not? Choose all that apply.

• A trusted expert in the topic

• Google search

• Social media

• Multiple websites or articles

AI is famous for being bad at math—specifically, counting fingers!

• Look for: 6 fingers, 4 fingers, or fingers that look too long or short.

• The Trick: Always count the fingers on every hand you see in a photo.

AI can create text and letters, but it doesn't know what letters mean. It treats them like shapes.

• Look for: Signs in the background that look like letters but don't spell real words.

• The Trick: Try to read the signs. If the words seem wrong, AI probably made it!

Draw

Imagine you are AI creating an image for a human. Read the prompt below and do your best to draw the image, but add in something that lets us know it was made with AI (example: incorrect spelling, too many fingers, etc.)
Prompt: Create an image of flowers outside in the sunshine.

Sometimes AI gets confused about where one thing ends and another begins.

• Look for: A person’s arm blending into a chair, a dog with two tails, or a coffee cup melting into a table.

• The Trick: Follow the edges of objects with your eyes. Do they stay separate, or do they blend together?

Nature is usually symmetrical (balanced). AI often forgets to match things up.

• Look for: A girl wearing two different earrings, or one eye that is a different color/shape than the other.

• The Trick: Draw an invisible line down the middle of a face. Does the left side match the right side?

Hotspot

Can you find all of the errors? Click on the parts of the photo that help you know this was created by AI.

*This image was generated using ChatGPT.

1. "Does this look too shiny?" AI loves to make everything look like it's made of smooth plastic.

2. "Is that even possible?" If you see a cat flying a plane, your brain already knows the answer!

3. "Where is the light coming from?" Look at the shadows. Are they all pointing the same way, or are they going in circles?

4. "What do I already know about this?" Trust your brain! Think about what you already know about the image or text you are reading.​

​Ask yourself...

1. Check the Source: Who said or typed this? Is it a website you recognize (like NASA or National Geographic) or a random account?

2. Check the "Vibe": Is it trying to make you feel really scared or really excited? (AI-generated fake news often uses high emotions to trick you).

3. Check the "Search": Copy the main idea and paste it into a search engine. Do other trusted news sites say the same thing? Make sure to use trusted websites.

​Ask yourself...

​The "Search" Warning:
When you are fact-checking and searching for the truth, remember that your search history is part of your digital footprint!
Stay Safe: Don't click on "weird" looking links just because you're curious. Use safe search engines to find the truth.

​Protect Your Digital Footprint