How to detect ChatGPT generated text?
We’ve entered a weird new era. One where tools like ChatGPT can whip up blog posts, essays, LinkedIn summaries — even full-on books — that look and sound just like something a human might write. Sometimes better than a human, which is a little unsettling.
So how do you actually tell if something was written by AI?
That’s what this post is about. It’s part guide, part rant, and part personal detective kit for anyone who’s ever read something and thought, huh… this feels a little too clean.
My 2nd Book, “Model Context Protocol : Advanced AI Agents for Beginners” is out now
️Let’s Start With the Vibe Check
Sometimes, you just feel it. The voice is kind of… blank. Polished but soulless. Helpful, yes. But oddly non-committal. Like someone’s trying really hard to sound human and not quite sticking the landing.
Here are a few patterns I’ve noticed — most of which are dead giveaways:
1. Too Organized to Be Real
You know how real writers sometimes ramble a bit, or jump between ideas, or circle back later? AI doesn’t do that. It structures everything into neat little boxes: numbered lists, headings for every point, bullet points inside those, maybe even a summary at the end. It’s… efficient, but almost too much so.
Human writing has a rhythm. AI writing has a format.
2. That Shiny, Overfriendly Tone
AI models love to sound approachable — like a tech-savvy friend at a co-working space. But the result is often this forced casualness:
“Let’s dive in!”
“Here’s the kicker…”
“Ready to unlock your potential?”
It’s not wrong, just oddly impersonal. A bit like being talked to by a very chipper intern who read too much Medium.
3. Examples That Go Nowhere
You’ll see the same tools pop up in AI examples: “Excel, Notion, Slack, Figma…” — but they’re not used in any meaningful way. Just dropped in to sound relatable.
A human might say, “When I was building that budget tracker for my flatmate’s wedding…”
An AI will say, “Imagine using Excel to manage your personal budget.”
One sounds like a story. The other sounds like a brochure.
4. Flawless, Fragment-Free Grammar
You know what real humans do? They trail off. Or use fragments. Sometimes we start a sentence and — never finish it.
AI? Nope. Every sentence is pristine. Clean grammar, tidy punctuation, subject-verb-object perfection. No sudden changes, no inside jokes, no abrupt changes in mood. It’s like reading an essay that’s trying not to offend anyone.
5. Jargon for Days
This one’s the worst. AI loves to pad writing with filler jargon:
“Our intuitive solution seamlessly integrates with your dynamic ecosystem.”
What does that even mean? Nothing. It’s sentence-shaped fluff.
6. The “AI Sandwich” Format
This is one I see a lot. It goes like this:
- Start with a punchy, energetic hook
- Middle is split into neatly formatted subheadings (lists, bullets, perfect spacing)
- End with a motivational CTA like “Ready to take the leap?”
It reads like a script. Because… it kind of is.
7. Over-Explaining the Obvious
You’ll be reading something, and suddenly:
“An API (Application Programming Interface) allows two software programs to talk to each other.”
Why is this here? Who is this for? No real writer pauses to define API in a post about software engineering. But AI plays it safe — better to over-explain than assume you know anything.
8. Zero Personal Stakes
Real people insert themselves. Even when they’re trying to sound professional, something leaks out — a frustration, an insight, a dumb mistake that turned into a story. AI? Nada.
- You’ll never get: “Honestly, I screwed up my first three tries and almost rage-quit the whole thing.”
- But you will get: “There may be some challenges along the way, but perseverance is key.”
Sterile. Sanitized. Safe.
9. Oddly Balanced Sentences
AI loves symmetry. You’ll see lines like:
“AI accelerates tasks. Humans bring intuition.”
“It’s efficient, effective, and effortless.”
It’s like it’s been trained on thousands of business pitches — and it kinda has.
10. No Tangents, No Sidetracks, No Surprises
Good writing meanders sometimes. Maybe there’s a weird joke in the middle. Maybe the writer doubles back to clarify something or goes off on a slightly unrelated rant that still somehow makes the piece better.
AI doesn’t meander. It’s linear, mechanical, goal-oriented. Start-to-finish, no side quests allowed.
11. Weirdly Motivational Closings
Ever read something that ends like:
“You’ve got this. Now go conquer your goals!”
Or
“Start using these tips today and unlock your full potential.”
It’s trying so hard to wrap things up with a bow — but it ends up sounding like an HR onboarding email.
Why This Actually Matters
Detecting AI text isn’t just a party trick — it’s becoming essential in education, journalism, and even SEO. Here’s why:
- Academic work: If students are turning in AI-written essays, that’s a big deal. And no, not just because of plagiarism — it also kills the point of actually learning to think.
- Trust in Media: Imagine reading a heartfelt op-ed, only to find it was stitched together by a bot. What happens to credibility then?
- Google’s Watching: SEO-wise, Google’s already penalizing low-quality, auto-generated content. Authenticity isn’t just noble — it’s strategic.
So… Can You Spot It Now?
It’s getting harder, honestly. AI’s evolving fast. And some human writers now sound like AI because they’ve been influenced by AI-generated content. (How’s that for a twist?)
But your best tools are still your gut and your curiosity. Look for signs of life: real anecdotes, strong opinions, messy thoughts, sudden humor, emotion that isn’t generic. Look for a human behind the keyboard.
Final Thought
If you’ve ever read something that felt a little too clean, a little too symmetrical, a little too emotionally beige — trust that instinct. You might be reading a ghost with perfect grammar.
And hey, maybe even this post was AI-generated. Or was it?
ChatGPT Wrote that? 11 Signs Your Text Is AI Generated was originally published in Data Science in Your Pocket on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
