With AI generated contents getting more indistinguishable from humans, The need to differentiate them and give credit to human creators becomes the new fight against AI with AI. AI detectors are built to spot AI generated contents, using the “creator vs. discriminator” principle. If this sounds to you like we’re using AI to detect its own kind, then you’re absolutely correct. Let’s explore how it works.
How AI Content Detectors Work
First, let’s review how Generative AI works. Imagine a system where AI is both the creator and the discriminator, this is not just a theoretical scenario but the reality of how advanced AI models work today. In this system, generative models (creators) produce outputs and discriminative models (discriminators) evaluate them. This is the same framework as the generative adversarial network (GAN) where both components learn and improve over time through a feedback loop.
AI content detectors use machine learning algorithms to analyze pieces of text and determine their origin. These systems are trained on massive datasets of examples of AI generated and human written text. By comparing new content against these models the detectors can identify patterns and markers that are typical of AI, such as syntax, repetitive phrasing and grammar errors.
What AI Detectors Look For:
Let’s review some key points AI Content Detectors use to flag a Text as AI generated:
- Syntax and Style: AI has a distinct syntax that can be too formal or uniform.
- Repetition: AI generated content may have repetitive word or phrase usage that is not common in human writing.
- Semantic Coherence: AI can produce grammatically correct text but lacks the contextual understanding and coherence of a human writer.
- Anomaly in Text Flow: AI may struggle with narrative consistency or may switch topics abruptly, leading to text flow that feels erratic.
- Lack of Transition or Bad Transition: AI generated text usually lacks the human way storyteller that keeps you on the edge of your seat while with a smooth transition to the next paragraph.
- Emotional Depth: The ultimate thing that differentiates Humans from Machines is emotion. Detectors might look for the emotional depth in the text.
Testing AI Detectors: An Alien Story
To see how these tools work let’s use an AI to generate a story about an alien trying to travel to Earth. We’ll test this story with Surfer AI Detector, Grammarly, Copyscape, Copyleaks and GPTZero
Notes:
- We’re not affiliated with any of these tools,
- We used a text about an Alien Rocket Dream to reach Earth generated by ChatGPT. You can grab the text here for your own testing.
- The list below doesn’t appear in any specific order or preference.
SurferSEO
Overall Comparison
| Tool | Primary Focus | Strengths | Weaknesses | Target Audience |
| SurferSEO | SEO and AI content detection | SEO integration, content optimization | Less accurate AI detection than dedicated tools | SEO professionals, content creators |
| Grammarly | Writing and grammar tool | Large user base, writing assistance, suggestions | New to AI detection, possibly less accurate than specialized tools | Writers, students, professionals |
| Phrasly | AI content detection | Simple, fast, focused on detection | No extra features | Users in need of a quick AI content detection |
| Copyleaks | Plagiarism and AI detection | Expertise in plagiarism and content originality | Complex interface, steep learning curve | Academics, educators, content professionals |
| GPTZero | AI content detection (GPT) | High accuracy with GPT generated text, widely recognized | Limited to GPT like AI detection, no extra features | Educators, journalists, content verification organizations |
Test Summary
Each AI detector serves a different purpose depending on the user. If you need AI detection and SEO optimization, SurferSEO is the way to go. If you already use writing tools, Grammarly has AI detection built in with its grammar tools. Phrasly for quick and simple detection, Copyleaks for academic and professional plagiarism detection and GPTZero for GPT generated text detection.
The Reality of AI Content Detection
It’s cool to see AI detect its own kind but it raises important questions about the feasibility and ethics of creating models to counter other models. It’s probably more efficient and transparent to regulate and inform the capabilities and use of AI models rather than playing a game of detection.
For Content Creators
If you’re using AI tools the fear of being detected by AI detectors is real. But all is not lost. Here are a few tips to make your content as ‘human’ as possible:
- Diversify Your Style: Don’t be uniform in tone and structure.
- Review and Revise: Use AI as a first draft tool. Human editing can add the human touch and contextual understanding.
- Know where AI fails and acknowledge when human expertise is required to provide context that AI cannot fully grasp.
In Conclusion
It’s cool to see AI detect its own kind but it raises important questions about the feasibility and ethics of creating models to counter other models. It’s probably more efficient and transparent to regulate and inform the capabilities and use of AI models rather than playing a game of detection. By knowing the capabilities and limitations of these tools, creators and regulators can better navigate the AI generated content challenge. As we move forward it will be a game of cat and mouse between AI created content and AI generated content detectors.
