A practical guide to provenance, metadata, visual clues, and careful AI-image review.
Start with the original
Ask for the original file whenever possible. Screenshots and social-media copies often remove camera and provenance information that helps establish where an image came from.
Read explicit evidence first
Generator metadata, a C2PA or Content Credentials record, and a clear creator disclosure are stronger than visual impressions. Check whether the record is readable and what exactly it claims.
Keep uncertainty visible
Missing metadata does not prove AI generation. Compare the file with its source, earlier copies, and the surrounding claim; use a cautious conclusion when the evidence is incomplete.