Verify an AI-generated photo of an event in 5 stepsthe claim and source, a pause, the original and other evidence, clues, and a dated record

Why this course, in November 2026

Search suggestions checked on 13 November 2026 return full sets for “how to tell if a photo is AI generated”, “how to check if a picture is AI generated” and “is this photo real or AI”. Suggestion lists show what people type, not how many type it, and we have not measured volumes beyond that. Suggestions for event-specific phrasings were empty when we checked, so this course is built around the general question applied to news-style event photos. None of this says that a photo can be settled by looking at it.

This is the fifth course in the series. The first, Spot AI fakes in 5 short lessons, is a general introduction. The second, Verify a viral video in 5 steps, is a workflow for a single clip. The third, Check a suspicious voice message in 5 steps, covers voice messages and calls. The fourth, Verify a screenshot or fake document in 5 steps, covers screenshots and documents. This one covers photos of events. A sixth course, Verify a viral news clip in 5 steps, covers news-style clips. A seventh course, Verify a leaked-looking chat or email screenshot in 5 steps, covers leaked-looking chat and email screenshots. An eighth course, Verify a fake product review or testimonial in 5 steps, covers product reviews and testimonials, a ninth, Verify an AI-generated receipt or invoice in 5 steps, covers AI-generated receipts and invoices, and a tenth, Check a suspicious profile photo or dating profile in 5 steps, covers suspicious profile photos and dating profiles. An eleventh course, Verify an AI-edited rental or property listing photo in 5 steps, covers rental and property listing photos, and a twelfth, Check a suspicious celebrity or expert video ad in 5 steps, covers celebrity and expert video ads. A thirteenth course, Check a photo, video or audio file offered as evidence in 5 steps, covers photo, video or audio files offered as evidence, and a fourteenth, Check a suspicious video call or remote job interview in 5 steps, covers suspicious video calls and remote job interviews. A fifteenth, Check a suspicious website or login page in 5 steps, covers suspicious websites and login pages, and a sixteenth, Check a map or satellite image that may be AI-made or edited in 5 steps, covers maps and satellite images that may be AI-made or edited. All sixteen sit under the public guide to protecting yourself from AI forgeries.

If you took a real photo and may need to show it later

If you photograph an event and may later need to show that your picture is yours and was not generated or altered, a dated record of the original file helps:

1. Keep the original file from the camera or phone, not only a re-saved, filtered or screenshotted copy, with your notes on when, where and what else you shot.
2. Make a TimeBind of that file. The fingerprint is made in your browser and the file stays on your device. You can later download a Proof of Time Certificate.
3. Store the file, the certificate and your notes together. Use the file date and metadata inspector or the file-changed answer to compare a copy later.

First Pooled TimeBind free, no card, then from US$5. An ASAP TimeBind is US$15. A TimeBind does not show that a photo is real or not AI-generated.

What a TimeBind shows, and what it does not. It shows that an exact file existed no later than a recorded time and that a copy shown later still matches its fingerprint. It does not show who made the file, who owns it, that its contents are true, or whether AI was used to make or edit it. This is general information, not legal advice.