What each verdict means
| Verdict | Based on | How much to trust it |
|---|---|---|
| AI-generated (Content Credentials) | Signed C2PA record stating generative AI was used | High — attached by the tool that made it |
| Computer-generated (Content Credentials) | Signed record saying an algorithm made it | High that software made it; not necessarily generative AI |
| Camera capture (Content Credentials) | Signed record from a capture device | High for the original capture; later edits may not be listed |
| AI-generated (metadata) | IPTC source type or software tag naming an AI tool | Medium-high — easy to add or remove by hand |
| Likely / possibly AI-generated | Pattern model score of 90%+ / 60–90% | A probability. Look for other signs before acting on it |
| Inconclusive | Model score between 40% and 60% | Treat as “don't know” |
| No signs of AI generation found | Low model score, no AI credentials or metadata | Not a guarantee the image is real — only that nothing was detected |
What the noise residual shows
Drag the slider on any result to see the image's noise residual: each pixel minus the average of its neighbours, amplified and coloured. Camera sensors leave fine grain everywhere; generated images often look smoother, patchier or oddly regular. It's a way to look closer with your own eyes — it is never used to decide the verdict.
Why most images have no Content Credentials
Credentials live inside the file. Screenshots, messaging apps and most social networks strip them, so “no credentials found” is normal and tells you nothing on its own — that's exactly when the pattern model earns its place.
Common reasons people check an image
- Fake Receipt Checker
- Dating Profile Photo Checker
- Fake ID Photo Detector
- Checking for Google's SynthID watermark
Limits you should know
- No detector is perfect. Heavy compression, cropping, filters and screenshots all lower accuracy.
- A real photo edited with an AI tool (for example, generative fill) can score as AI.
- We can't read Google's invisible SynthID watermark — only Google's own tools can. See how to check for SynthID.
Free and Pro
Reading credentials and metadata is always free and unlimited. The pattern model costs us money per image, so free visitors get 3 model checks a day. Proremoves the daily limit and adds a downloadable PDF report with the file's SHA-256 fingerprint.
