AI-generated content is everywhere now. Emails, documents, proposals, even code. Some of it’s useful, but some of it’s problematic. How do you know if something was written by AI? And why does it matter?
We’ve seen businesses receive AI-generated phishing emails that look more convincing than human-written ones. We’ve seen contracts and proposals that were clearly AI-generated but presented as original work. We’ve seen businesses waste time on documents that were just AI output with minimal editing.
Being able to identify AI-generated content matters for security, authenticity, and quality. Here’s what to look for and why it’s important.
Why Detection Matters
From a security perspective, AI-generated content can be used for sophisticated phishing attacks. Attackers use AI to create emails that look professional and convincing, making it harder to spot scams. If you can identify AI-generated content, you’re better equipped to recognise potential threats.
From a business perspective, you need to know if documents you’re receiving are original work or AI-generated. This matters for contracts, proposals, and other important documents. AI-generated content might look good on the surface, but it often lacks the depth and accuracy of human-written work.
And there are authenticity concerns. If someone presents AI-generated content as their own work, that’s a problem. It raises questions about credibility and trust. In business relationships, authenticity matters.
Common Signs of AI-Generated Content
AI-generated text often has a particular style. It’s usually very polished and grammatically perfect, sometimes to an unnatural degree. Human writing has small imperfections, varied sentence structure, and personal voice. AI writing tends to be more uniform and formulaic.
AI often uses certain phrases and structures repeatedly. Words like “delve,” “tapestry,” “crucial,” and “leverage” appear frequently in AI-generated content. Sentences often follow similar patterns, with predictable transitions and structures.
AI writing tends to be overly formal or overly enthusiastic. It might use exclamation points excessively, or it might be so formal that it sounds unnatural. Human writing has more variation in tone and style.
AI often struggles with specific details and context. It might make generic statements that could apply to any situation, rather than addressing specific points. Human writing usually includes more specific details and shows understanding of context.
Technical Detection Methods
There are tools that can help detect AI-generated content, though they’re not perfect. These tools analyse text patterns, word choices, and sentence structures to identify AI characteristics. They can be useful, but they’re not foolproof.
Some detection tools look for statistical patterns in the text. AI-generated content often has different statistical properties than human writing. Word frequency, sentence length, and other metrics can indicate AI generation.
Other tools analyse writing style and compare it to known AI patterns. They look for the formulaic structures and repetitive phrases that AI tends to use. These tools can flag suspicious content, but they can also produce false positives.
It’s worth noting that detection tools are getting less reliable as AI improves. Newer AI models produce more human-like text, making detection harder. The tools are still useful, but they shouldn’t be your only method.
What to Do When You Suspect AI Content
If you suspect content is AI-generated, ask questions. Request clarification on specific points. Ask for examples or details. AI-generated content often falls apart when you dig deeper, because it lacks real understanding.
Check for consistency. Does the content make sense throughout? Are there contradictions? Does it address your specific situation, or is it generic? AI-generated content often has inconsistencies or generic statements that don’t fit the context.
Verify facts and claims. AI can make up information that sounds plausible but isn’t true. If something seems off, verify it. Don’t trust AI-generated content without fact-checking.
Consider the source. Is this coming from someone you trust? Does it match their usual style and knowledge? If something feels different from what you’d expect, that’s worth investigating.
For Your Own Content
If you’re using AI to help create content, be transparent about it. Don’t present AI-generated content as original work. Use AI as a tool to help draft and refine, but make sure the final product reflects your actual knowledge and expertise.
Always review and edit AI output. AI makes mistakes, and it often produces generic or inaccurate content. Don’t use AI output without careful review. Make it your own by adding specific details, correcting errors, and ensuring it accurately represents your business.
Consider your audience. Some people care about whether content is AI-generated. Others don’t. But authenticity matters in business relationships. If you’re using AI, use it thoughtfully and transparently.
Staying Informed
AI technology is evolving quickly, and detection methods need to evolve too. What works today might not work tomorrow. Stay informed about new AI capabilities and new detection methods.
For businesses, this means understanding that AI-generated content is becoming more common and more sophisticated. You need to be able to identify it, evaluate it critically, and use it appropriately if you choose to use it yourself.
If you’re concerned about AI-generated content in your business communications, or if you want help understanding how to use AI tools appropriately, let’s discuss it. We’ve helped businesses navigate these issues and can help you develop strategies for identifying and handling AI-generated content.