How to spot deepfake images

UC professor gives tips to WVXU on identifying AI-generated content

As images created by artificial intelligence become more widespread and harder to differentiate from real photos and videos, it’s important for people to be aware of them, a University of Cincinnati professor told WVXU.

Jeffrey Shaffer headshot

Jeffrey Shaffer

Jeffrey Shaffer, the Joseph S. Stern Professor of Practice and assistant professor-educator in UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, has given presentations on AI and will teach a class about it in the fall.

“We have to teach not only how to use AI tools, but what these tools are good at, what the cautionary tales are, what we have to be careful of, because these tools do make mistakes and it can be really bad mistakes,” he said.

AI-generated images include deepfakes, hyper-realistic, digitally manipulated works such as face swaps, audio manipulation, facial reenactments and lip-synching.

To spot deepfakes, Shaffer’s tips include maintaining a basic understanding of AI, being skeptical and using tools that can help spot the fake content.

See more from WVXU about deepfakes and how to identify them.

Featured image at top: Computer chip. Photo/BoliviaInteligente via Unsplash

Innovation Lives Here

The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.

Related Stories

1

Lindner graduate students shine in international simulation competition

November 10, 2025

Five master’s of information systems (MS IS) students took home fifth place out of 23 universities at the International ERPsim Competition hosted by HEC Montreal during the recent spring semester. The competition tests students’ knowledge of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and their ability to adapt to challenging business problems.

2

Sugar overload killing hearts

November 10, 2025

Two in five people will be told they have diabetes during their lifetime. And people who have diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease. One of the deadliest dangers? Diabetic cardiomyopathy. But groundbreaking University of Cincinnati research hopes to stop and even reverse the damage before it’s too late.

3

Is going nuclear the solution to Ohio’s energy costs?

November 10, 2025

The Ohio Capital Journal recently reported that as energy prices continue to climb, economists are weighing the benefits of going nuclear to curb costs. The publication dove into a Scioto Analysis survey of 18 economists to weigh the pros and cons of nuclear energy. One economist featured was Iryna Topolyan, PhD, professor of economics at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business.