I Can Spot AI Writing Instantly — Here’s How You Can Too

About this video

• Video Title: I Can Spot AI Writing Instantly — Here’s How You Can Too
• Channel: Evan Edinger
• Speakers: Evan Edinger
• Duration: 00:15:59

Overview

This video serves as a guide to identifying content written by AI, with a particular focus on the year 2025. The presenter, Evan Edinger, shares "red flags" or common characteristics found in AI-generated text, offering examples and explanations to help viewers develop this skill. The video aims to equip the audience with the ability to distinguish between human and AI writing across various platforms like emails, social media, and even YouTube comments.

Key takeaways

• Overuse of M-dashes: AI models frequently use M-dashes, a punctuation mark often overlooked by humans, as a stylistic preference.
• Parallel Sentence Structures: AI often employs repetitive sentence structures, such as "It's not just X, it's Y," making the writing predictable.
• Convenient Lists of Three: AI tends to structure points in groups of three, aligning with human preference for easily digestible information, which is a common stylistic choice in AI writing.
• The Uncanny Valley of Language: AI-generated text can sometimes feel "off" due to unusual word choices or a strange tone, creating a sense of artificiality.
• Filler Words and Jargon: AI writing may overuse vague positive adjectives and industry jargon (e.g., "innovative," "practical solutions," "elevate") that humans might use less frequently.
• Empty Praise: AI can generate overly positive and generic compliments that lack genuine personalization or specific detail.
• Weird Analogies and Similes: AI might create analogies that are technically correct but feel forced, awkward, or fall flat in conveying meaning.
• Repetitive Restatement: AI writing can be characterized by unnecessary repetition, over-explanation, and the inclusion of filler preamble.
• Generic Content: AI-generated stories and anecdotes often lack the personal touch, specific details, and unique voice that human writing typically contains.
• Perfect Grammar in Informal Contexts: While not a definitive sign, consistently perfect grammar in informal settings like iMessages or casual comments can sometimes indicate AI assistance.
• Lack of Tangents: Unlike human writing, AI-generated content tends to be direct and focused, rarely deviating into related topics or personal anecdotes.
• Corporate or Insincere Tone: AI-generated text can sometimes sound corporately polite, generic, and insincere, lacking the genuine "vibe" of human expression.