How do “AI detection” tools actually work? And are they effective?

With almost half of all Australians reporting having recently used artificial intelligence (AI) tools, it is becoming increasingly important to know when and how to use them.

Consulting firm Deloitte recently provided a partial refund to the Australian government after a report it published contained AI-generated errors.

A lawyer also recently faced disciplinary action after false AI-generated citations were discovered in a formal court document. And many universities are concerned about how their students use AI.

Amid these examples, a number of “AI discovery tools” have emerged that attempt to address people’s need to identify accurate, trustworthy, and verified content.

But how do these tools actually work? And are they effective at detecting AI-generated material?

How do AI detectors work?

There are different approaches, and their effectiveness may depend on what type of content is involved.

Text detectors often attempt to infer AI involvement by looking for “signatures”…