Did I Just See That? 10 Signs a Video is AI-Generated
You’ve probably seen some wild, unbelievable videos floating around lately — the kind that make you stop scrolling and say, “There’s no way that’s real.”
Maybe it’s a house cat taking on a jaguar and somehow winning.
Or a toddler staring down an alligator like a mini Crocodile Dundee.
Maybe even a grandma getting shot point-blank with a t-shirt gun and walking it off like nothing happened.
They’re funny, shocking, and jaw-dropping — and that’s exactly why they’re made. What most people don’t realize is that many of these clips aren’t real at all. They’re AI-generated videos — computer-made illusions designed to look 100% authentic.
So What Exactly Is “AI-Generated Video”?
AI-generated videos come from powerful programs that can create realistic video scenes using nothing more than text descriptions. You type, “A cat fighting a jaguar in the jungle,” and boom — a minute later, it looks like a film crew caught it live.
Two of the biggest names leading the way are Google’s Veo and OpenAI’s Sora.
Sora lets users type out prompts and generates full-motion clips complete with lighting, shadows, and sound.
Veo is Google’s version, producing cinematic videos that look straight out of a movie trailer.
Both companies have added digital watermarks and hidden “fingerprints” meant to help identify AI-made content — but here’s the kicker: those marks can vanish once the video is cropped, downloaded, or re-uploaded.
So while the tech world is racing to label AI content, the internet’s still full of videos that look real… but aren’t.
Why It’s Getting Harder to Tell What’s Real
Not long ago, spotting a fake video was easy. Weird hands, robotic faces, and lighting that looked straight out of a PlayStation 2 game were dead giveaways.
Now? Not so much.
These new AI models can handle things that used to give them away — like the way light hits hair, how shadows move, or how water ripples when someone steps into it. The motion is smoother, faces blink naturally, and the sound even syncs better.
In other words, the “little tells” that used to separate real from fake are fading fast. And that means we’ve got to pay closer attention than ever before.
Here’s your go-to checklist for when you’re not quite sure if what you’re watching is the real deal or the result of someone’s imagination (and a very fancy computer).
1️⃣ Start With the Source
Before you even hit play, look at who posted it.
If the clip came from a random account with no context, no tags, and no history, that’s already suspicious.
Real news and legitimate creators usually share some kind of background — where it happened, when, who filmed it.
Also look for a watermark or credit line. Some AI systems like Google’s Veo use digital markers (called SynthID) that label content as AI-made. But once people crop or re-record the clip, those clues disappear. If you can’t trace where it came from, don’t assume it’s real.
2️⃣ Watch How Things Move
This one’s big.
AI still struggles with realistic movement. People may walk too smoothly, animals might “float,” or motion might feel off, like gravity’s optional.
In that “cat vs. jaguar” clip, does the cat’s paw actually land on the jaguar? Does fur move naturally from the hit? If it looks stiff, jerky, or physics-defying — that’s a sign it’s AI-made.
3️⃣ Listen Closely
Sound sells the illusion — but AI often gets it wrong.
Does the audio match what’s happening? Are there footsteps without dust? A roar that doesn’t line up with a mouth movement?
Sometimes the voice or sound will have odd timing, like it’s almost right but not quite. That split-second delay between sight and sound can be the tell you need.
4️⃣ Eyes Don’t Lie (Unless They’re AI)
For years, deepfake experts have said the eyes give it away.
If someone in a video never blinks, or blinks too slowly, that’s suspicious.
Also, watch where their eyes are looking — if their gaze doesn’t track motion or if it drifts oddly, it’s likely generated. Humans make small, quick eye movements all the time. AI sometimes forgets that.
5️⃣ Check the Lighting and Shadows
Lighting is one of the hardest things for AI to get right.
In a real video, everything shares the same light source — meaning the sun, shadows, and reflections all line up.
But in an AI clip, one side of a face might glow like sunset while the background looks like midday.
In that toddler-alligator video, for instance — if the shadows fall in different directions or the reflections don’t match, it’s probably fake.
6️⃣ Zoom In on the Little Stuff
The details are where AI slips up.
Skin that looks too smooth. Hair that blends into the background. Hands that melt into objects or have six fingers (yep, it happens).
Pause the video and look at the edges — especially around fast motion. Blurry outlines or “melty” textures usually mean a machine made it.
7️⃣ Watch for Flickers or Frame Jumps
Try replaying a few seconds in slow motion.
Do you notice quick flashes, flickers, or small shifts in background objects? That’s AI’s way of saying, “Oops.”
It happens when the system can’t keep each frame consistent, causing things to morph slightly between shots. Your brain might not notice it in real-time, but it’s there.
8️⃣ Test the Physics
This one’s fun because it’s pure common sense.
If a person gets hit, they should flinch.
If an object drops, it should bounce or react naturally.
In that t-shirt gun video — did the shirt actually launch with force? Did the shooter recoil at all? If not, you’re watching a simulation, not a stunt.
9️⃣ Ask Yourself: Does This Even Make Sense?
A toddler riding an alligator like a horse? A cat defeating a jaguar?
Come on.
AI content often thrives on shock value — making something just realistic enough to fool your eyes while your brain says, “No way.” If it seems too bizarre to be true, that’s probably because it is.
🔟 Verify With a Quick Search
Before you share or comment, take 30 seconds to verify.
Search for key terms, like “jaguar cat video fake” or “grandma t-shirt gun AI.”
See if any news outlets, fact-checkers, or video experts have debunked it. If nobody reputable has mentioned it, that’s a sign it’s not news — it’s just noise.
The Bottom Line
The world’s changing fast. AI video tools like Sora and Veo are making it easier than ever to create convincing fakes, and even though watermarking and detection tools are improving, they’re not perfect.
The next wave of viral content won’t just be made up — it’ll look better, move smoother, and sound more believable than anything we’ve seen before.
That means our best defense is awareness. Pay attention. Question what you see. Think twice before sharing.
Because as this technology keeps advancing, one thing’s for sure — the internet’s about to get a whole lot more interesting.