Last Updated: January 5, 2024

As AI continues to evolve, distinguishing between human and AI-generated content will become more challenging. Utilizing AI checkers and being aware of the characteristics of AI writing are crucial steps in ensuring the authenticity and originality of content in various fields.

What is an AI Checker? Why Do People Want to Check AI Writing?

• An AI checker is a sophisticated tool designed to distinguish between content written by humans and that generated by AI. With the advent of AI writing tools like ChatGPT, their use has proliferated across various fields such as academics, journalism, and content creation. This rise has led to a significant need to verify the authenticity of written material.
  • Academic Integrity: In the academic world, AI checkers are crucial in maintaining integrity. For instance, universities use these tools to ensure that theses and research papers are the original work of students, not AI-generated content.
  • Journalistic Standards: In journalism, AI checkers help maintain credibility by ensuring that news articles and reports are written by journalists, preserving the human element in news reporting.
  • Digital Marketing: For content creators and digital marketers, AI checkers are vital in ensuring that the content on websites and in marketing materials is original and not AI-generated, which is essential for SEO and audience engagement.

How to Check if Something was Written by AI?

• Detecting AI-written content is becoming increasingly important in various fields. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to identify AI-generated text:
  • Step 1: Utilize AI Detection Tools
    1. Choose an AI Detection Tool: Select from popular tools like Copyleaks, GPTZero, and Originality.AI. Each tool has its strengths and is suited for different types of content.
    2. Input the Text: Copy and paste the text you want to analyze into the tool. Some tools may allow you to upload documents directly.
    3. Analyze the Text: Run the analysis. The tool will process the text and use its algorithms to determine the likelihood of it being AI-generated.
    4. Interpret the Results: Review the likelihood score or percentage provided by the tool. A higher score typically indicates a higher probability of AI involvement.
  • Step 2: Identify Technical and Syntactical Signs
    1. Examine Transitional Words: Look for an overuse of transitional phrases like “furthermore,” “moreover,” etc. AI tends to overuse these to create smooth transitions.
    2. Assess Vocabulary Usage: AI often uses complex, high-level vocabulary unnecessarily. Compare this to the expected vocabulary level for the given context.
    3. Spot Repetition: Notice if certain phrases or keywords are repeated excessively. AI might do this to maintain relevance to the topic.
    4. Evaluate Depth of Analysis: Check if the content lacks nuanced or in-depth analysis, a common shortfall in AI-generated texts.
    5. Check for Data Accuracy: AI can sometimes include inaccurate or outdated information. Verify any factual data or statistics mentioned in the text.
  • Step 3: Check for AI Plagiarism
    1. Select a Plagiarism Checker: Use tools like Turnitin or Copyleaks, which are equipped to detect AI plagiarism.
    2. Upload or Paste the Content: Input the text into the plagiarism checker. These tools can scan large documents and compare them against extensive databases.
    3. Run the Plagiarism Check: Allow the tool to analyze the text. It will compare the content against known sources and AI writing patterns.
    4. Review the Report: Examine the plagiarism report for any flagged sections. High similarity scores or matches with known AI-generated content databases can indicate AI involvement.

Do Colleges Check for AI in Application Essays?

Yes, colleges and universities are increasingly turning to AI detection tools to scrutinize application essays and other submissions. For example, a prestigious university might use AI checkers to analyze admission essays to ensure that each essay reflects the unique voice and thought process of the applicant, rather than being AI-generated.

What is the Best AI Checkers?

• Some of the most effective AI checkers in the market include:
  • Copyleaks: Known for its accuracy in detecting AI-generated content, Copyleaks is widely used in academic settings.
  • GPTZero: Popular in educational institutions for its ability to analyze text complexity and sentence structures.
  • Originality.AI: Favoured for its dual functionality of detecting AI content and plagiarism, making it a comprehensive tool for content creators.
  • Turnitin’s AI detection tool: A staple in academic settings, known for its effectiveness in distinguishing between human and AI-written essays.

Does SafeAssign, Turnitin, and Grammarly Check for AI?

• SafeAssign: While primarily a plagiarism detection tool, SafeAssign is evolving to include features that may help in identifying AI-generated content.
• Turnitin: Actively incorporates features to detect AI-written content, making it a go-to tool in academic circles.
• Grammarly: While it focuses on grammar and plagiarism, there’s potential for future updates to include AI detection capabilities.

How Does an AI Checker Work?

1. Pattern Recognition: AI checkers analyze the text for specific patterns that are characteristic of AI-generated content. This includes sentence structure, word choice, and overall flow.
2. Machine Learning Algorithms: These tools use advanced algorithms trained on large datasets of human and AI-written texts. They learn from these datasets to identify what differentiates AI writing from human writing.
3. Probability Assessment: The checker calculates a probability score based on how closely the text matches known AI writing patterns.
4. Result Interpretation: The final step involves interpreting the results. A high probability score doesn’t always guarantee AI authorship but indicates a higher likelihood.

FAQs About AI Content Detection

1. Can AI checkers detect all AI-written content?
   • AI checkers, while advanced, are not infallible. They can sometimes yield false positives or negatives, especially with sophisticated AI models.
2. Is it ethical to use AI for writing academic papers?
   • The use of AI in academic writing is a contentious ethical issue. Generally, it’s considered unethical if it contravenes the principles of academic honesty and originality.
3. Can AI checkers be used in professional settings?
   • Absolutely. In professional realms like legal documentation, technical writing, and content creation, AI checkers are invaluable in ensuring the authenticity and originality of the content.