Note: Yes, this article is co-written by AI and human.

As AI-generated content becomes more common, knowing whether a piece of writing is created by a human or an AI is increasingly useful. I would say, anybody should have some idea how to distinguish AI text vs. human. AI content isn't necessarily worse, but you may want to know the source for various reasons. Here are some signs of AI generated text:

1. Repetitive Patterns and Phrasing

AI often repeats phrases, sentence structures, or ideas. If the article seems unusually uniform or uses similar words multiple times in ways that feel mechanical, it could be AI-generated.

I often think about the overall feel of an article: If it feels unnecessarily long for its meaning, it might be AI-generated.

2. Lack of Deep Insight or Nuance

AI can summarize and explain, but it may struggle with genuine analysis, opinion, or personal experience. Articles that feel factual but lack depth, context, or perspective might be written by AI. Keep in mind though, a personal opinion appearing in article doesn't necessarily mean it was written by a human. A human author might have asked AI to "write it as if you experienced it."

3. Overly Formal or Generic Tone

Many AI models produce content that is neutral, formal, or “safe.” If an article avoids slang, humor, or emotional nuance even in casual topics, that’s a potential signal.

In my experience, at least ChatGPT and Copilot don't like to touch "political" or "powerful" figures, and may hide facts until you question it. What this mean is, if a policital text is generated by AI, it looks very "neutral" sounding to powerful one; it in fact means AI sides with political power.

4. Slightly Off Facts or Inconsistencies

AI sometimes mixes true and false information or creates small inconsistencies. Checking facts or noticing unusual claims can reveal AI involvement.

5. Missing Local or Cultural Awareness

AI may not grasp cultural references, local expressions, or very recent events accurately. If an article feels globally generic or slightly detached from context, it might be AI-generated.

Free Tools to Detect AI Text

Several free tools can help you check if a text might be AI-generated:

GPTZero – Analyzes text perplexity and burstiness to estimate AI authorship.

Writer.com AI Content Detector – Provides a probability score for AI-written text.

OpenAI Text Classifier – OpenAI’s own tool for assessing whether a text is likely AI-generated.

While these tools aren’t perfect, combining them with critical reading increases your chances of spotting AI content.

Conclusion

No single sign guarantees an article is written by AI, but by combining these observations you'll have some idea. Reading critically, checking sources, and noting tone and style are your best defenses against misleading or automated content.