What is the easiest way to check if a video is AI generated?
The best way to determine if a video is real is to use a combination of tools that analyze different aspects: the source, the content, and technical manipulations.
Here are some of the most helpful online tools and extensions for video verification:
1. Reverse Image/Video Search Tools
These tools help you find the video's original source or earlier uploads to check if it has been taken out of context.
InVID-WeVerify Extension
A browser extension (Chrome/Firefox) that analyzes YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter videos. It can break a video into keyframes and run a reverse image search on them.
The most comprehensive toolkit for journalists, combining multiple verification features.
Google Reverse Image Search / Yandex
Not a dedicated video tool, but essential for reverse-searching the keyframes you extract from a video.
Excellent for finding duplicates or earlier uses of a video's still image.
TinEye
Another powerful reverse image search engine.
Often finds different results than Google or Yandex.
2. Geolocation and Metadata Tools
These help confirm when and where a video was supposedly filmed.
Amnesty International's YouTube DataViewer
Enter a YouTube URL to retrieve the video's exact upload date, time, and hidden thumbnails.
Helps establish the earliest known upload time, which is critical for verifying authenticity.
Google Maps / Google Street View
Use visual clues from the video (buildings, signs) to pinpoint the exact location.
Essential for geolocation—confirming the on-screen surroundings match the claimed location.
SunCalc
Displays the sun's position and shadow direction for any location, date, and time.
Allows you to check if the shadows in the video are consistent with the claimed time and date of filming.
ExifTool (Software/Limited Online Viewers)
Can extract metadata (date, time, GPS location, device) if you have the original video file.
Provides "fingerprint" data about the video's creation, though most social media platforms strip this upon upload.
3. Deepfake and AI Detection Tools
These specialized services use artificial intelligence to look for subtle anomalies indicating synthetic or AI-generated content.
Deepware Scanner
An online scanner where you can upload a video or paste a link to check for signs of deepfake manipulation.
Focuses on detecting AI-generated video and audio anomalies.
Microsoft Video Authenticator (Often for private/enterprise use)
Uses AI to detect evidence of manipulation in videos and still images.
One of the most advanced tools for technical analysis of deepfakes.
Hive AI Deepfake Detection
Provides an API/service to detect deepfakes and other AI-generated content in images and videos.
Useful for content moderation and large-scale detection.
How to Use Them Together
Start with InVID-WeVerify: Use it to extract keyframes and check the upload date.
Reverse Search the Keyframes: Use Google, Yandex, and TinEye to see where the images have been used before.
Geolocation: Use Google Maps/Street View and SunCalc to check if the background and lighting match the context.
Deepfake Check: If the video shows a person speaking or moving strangely, use a tool like Deepware Scanner to check for AI manipulation.