How to Identify (& Fix) AI-Generated Content?

The rise of AI writing tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models (LLMs) has revolutionised content creation. While these AI tools offer speed and efficiency, they also leave behind distinctive patterns or “fingerprints” that can help you identify AI-generated content. 

As the internet becomes increasingly flooded with AI-written material, recognising these patterns and improving your own AI-assisted writing is crucial. In this article, we will explore how you can identify AI-generated content and fix the distinctive AI “fingerprints” to make it more human-like.

Understanding AI Writing Fingerprints

Just like humans have unique writing styles, AI models also exhibit specific patterns in their output. These patterns persist even when the content is rewritten, summarised, or translated. Research has shown that AI-generated text carries identifiable characteristics that can be used to determine the model that created it. 

These traits include predictable word choices, specific formatting habits, and certain stylistic tendencies. By recognising these fingerprints, you can enhance your content to make it sound more natural and less robotic.

In fact, a study conducted on AI writing tools achieved a 97.1% accuracy rate in determining which model generated a particular piece of content based on its distinctive features. Understanding these patterns is important for two main reasons:

1. For readers: Knowing how to spot AI content helps you critically assess the reliability of the information you consume.
2. For writers: Recognising the unique traits of AI models allows you to fine-tune your drafts, making them sound more authentic and human.

How to Spot AI-Generated Content?

Each AI model has its own distinctive writing habits. Let’s dive deeper into the characteristics of the major AI tools and how they manifest in their output.

1. ChatGPT

• Characteristic Phrases: ChatGPT frequently uses transitional phrases like “certainly,” “such as,” and “overall.” It may start its responses with phrases like “Below is…” or “Sure!” Moreover, it uses qualifiers such as “typically,” “various,” and “in-depth” to add nuance.
• Formatting Habits: ChatGPT often employs bold or italic styling, bullet points, and headings for clarity. It’s common to see enumerated lists or step-by-step guides to organise the content.
• Semantic/Stylistic Tendencies: ChatGPT tends to provide more detailed, explanatory responses. Its tone is formal, often resembling a “helpful explainer” that gives thorough background information.

How to Fix It: If your AI-generated text feels overly formal or packed with qualifiers, you can adjust the tone by simplifying sentences and replacing the typical “ChatGPT-style” phrases with more natural alternatives. Reducing the use of step-by-step lists or breaking up the content into more conversational segments can also help.

2. Claude

• Characteristic Phrases: Claude is known for its concise and direct approach. It uses phrases like “according to the text,” “based on,” and “here is a summary.” Transitions like “while,” “both,” and “the text” are common.
• Formatting Habits: Claude uses simple bullet points or minimal lists and often makes direct references to the prompt or the text snippet.
• Semantic/Stylistic Tendencies: Claude focuses on key points and prioritises clarity over lengthy explanations. Its style is succinct and practical.

How to Fix It: If your content sounds too terse or formulaic, try adding more context or examples. Use varied transitions and experiment with breaking the text into sections or adding subheadings to make it flow more naturally.

3. Grok

• Characteristic Phrases: Grok’s text often includes words like “remember,” “might,” and “but also.” It may begin with phrases like “which” or “where,” making direct statements.
• Formatting Habits: Grok uses headings or enumerations sparingly but relies more on functional, instructional writing.
• Semantic/Stylistic Tendencies: Grok provides thorough explanations but with a practical tone. Its writing is more direct and factual, avoiding nuance-heavy phrases like “certainly” or “overall.”

How to Fix It: To make Grok-style content feel more human, add a bit of personality or creativity. You can introduce more varied sentence structures and avoid excessive reliance on functional language.

4. Gemini

• Characteristic Phrases: Gemini frequently uses “below,” “example,” “for instance,” and often combines them with phrases like “in summary.” Occasionally, it may even use exclamation prompts like “certainly! Below.”
• Formatting Habits: Gemini integrates short markdown structures like bullet points and occasional headers. It also uses enumerated lists to highlight key instructions.
• Semantic/Stylistic Tendencies: Gemini balances concise summaries with moderately detailed explanations. It favours a clear, instructional tone.

How to Fix It: If the content sounds too instructional or robotic, introduce a conversational tone. Use personal anecdotes or examples that only a human writer could include to enhance engagement.

5. DeepSeek

• Characteristic Phrases: DeepSeek uses words like “crucial,” “key improvements,” and “essentially.” Transitional phrases like “at the same time” or “also” are also common.
• Formatting Habits: It frequently uses bullet points and enumerations to organise information.
• Semantic/Stylistic Tendencies: DeepSeek offers thorough breakdowns and explanations, but its writing is generally more concise than that of ChatGPT.

How to Fix It: DeepSeek’s content can be improved by reducing the excessive use of summarising phrases. Try to add more detail and depth in your explanations to make them sound more organic.

How to Make AI-Generated Content More Human?

Identifying AI-generated content is only half the battle. Once you’ve recognised the patterns, it’s important to take steps to fix them and make the writing sound more authentic. Here are some practical tips to help you do that:

Vary the Opening Sentences

AI-generated content tends to have predictable opening phrases. For example, models like ChatGPT often begin with “Below is…” or “Sure!” To humanise your text, try varying your sentence structures right from the start. Avoid generic openers and opt for something more engaging and original.

Replace Characteristic Phrases

Each AI tool has its own set of signature phrases, which can make the content feel mechanical. For instance, phrases like “according to the text” or “in summary” can make the writing sound formulaic. Go through your content and replace these typical AI expressions with more natural alternatives.

Adjust Formatting Patterns

AI models tend to follow certain formatting habits, such as overuse of bullet points or excessive headings. While these are helpful in some contexts, they can make the content feel rigid and robotic. Adjust the formatting to suit your audience and the tone you want to set. For instance, you might remove unnecessary lists and break up long paragraphs into shorter, more digestible chunks.

Restructure the Content

AI-written content often follows a predictable organisational structure. To make it more unique, consider rearranging sections or adding transitions that flow naturally. By changing the order of ideas or grouping them differently, you can create a more original and engaging structure.

Add Personal Touches

One of the key ways to make your content feel human is by incorporating your own experiences, insights, and opinions. AI models can provide useful information, but they lack personal perspectives. By weaving in examples from your own life or work, you can give the content a more authentic and relatable voice.

Conclusion

As AI tools continue to evolve, their presence in content creation will only increase. However, understanding the distinctive “fingerprints” left by these models can give you an edge in identifying AI-generated content and improving your own work. By recognising the unique patterns associated with different AI models and taking steps to humanise your writing, you can produce content that is both engaging and authentic.

The key takeaway is to combine the efficiency of AI with your own creativity and expertise. This approach not only ensures that your content stands out but also appeals to both readers and search engines alike. Whether you’re a marketer, content creator, or student, mastering the art of identifying and fixing AI-generated content will make you a more effective writer in today’s digital age.