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OpenDetect

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Real or fake? Check the photo first.

Saw a photo that seems too wild to be true? Check it before you share it. We show you exactly what the file says about where it came from.

What we check, in order

  1. Step 1

    Signed credentials

    If the file was made by ChatGPT, Gemini, Adobe Firefly and others, it often carries signed Content Credentials (C2PA). We read them on your device. A valid signature is very hard to fake.

  2. Step 2

    File metadata

    EXIF, XMP and IPTC fields can name the camera or the AI tool. Stable Diffusion and ComfyUI often save the prompt inside PNGs. Useful, but anyone can edit these.

  3. Step 3

    Invisible watermark

    If there are no credentials, we ask OpenAI's official checker to look for its invisible SynthID watermark, which survives screenshots and re-saving.

  4. Step 4

    Honest when it's unclear

    When none of this turns up anything, we say so. No signal is not proof of a real photo. We'll never show a made-up “97% AI” score.

How to read the result

  • Made with AIA signed credential or a watermark says AI. Strongest evidence there is.
  • Signs of AIUnsigned metadata names an AI tool. Usually right, but editable.
  • Signed camera photoSigned camera credentials and no AI signals.
  • Not enough evidenceNothing we can read either way. Common for screenshots and reposts.

A 30-second routine

  1. 1Get the best copySave the original file instead of screenshotting it. Screenshots throw away most of the evidence.
  2. 2Check it hereSigned credentials or a watermark give you a clear answer in seconds.
  3. 3Find the sourceSearch the image with Google Lens or TinEye to find who posted it first, and when.
  4. 4Look for a second sourceReal news photos show up from more than one photographer or outlet.

Questions

How do I check if a viral photo is real?
Download the original if you can, not a screenshot. Then check it here. If the file carries credentials or a watermark, you'll get a clear answer. If it doesn't, look for the first account that posted it and search the image with Google Lens.
The result says “not enough evidence”. Is the photo real then?
It means the file has no signals we can read. That's normal for screenshots and reposts, real or not. It isn't a vote for “real”.
What can I look for myself?
Look at hands, teeth, text on signs, reflections and repeated background patterns. Newer models get these right more often, so treat them as clues, not proof.
Can I check a video?
Not yet. Right now we check images and audio. Video is next.

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