By Aaron Lambert
In today’s digital age, vigilance is essential. Gone are the days when we could reasonably trust that every word read and video viewed online was made by a human being. Instead, the advent of artificial intelligence has made it very difficult for people to know if what they’re seeing is real or not.
For Catholics, this is especially troubling, as the rise of content designed to deceive is on a very rapid rise. Since Pope Leo XIV’s election in May, AI-generated videos of him speaking and saying uncharacteristic things have started to appear in spades on YouTube and across the internet. The same is true of other notable Catholic figures such as Father Mike Schmitz and Bishop Robert Barron, who have both issued warnings against these counterfeit videos.
As AI and its related technologies become more and more advanced at an alarming rate, the likelihood of being duped by these dastardly digital deceptions only increases. So how can we stay vigilant and be confident that the content we’re consuming online is indeed real and not created by AI? Here are five tips to help you stay free from being digitally duped.
1. Check for official branding and verified accounts
The easiest way to confirm that a video you’re watching is legitimate and not AI-generated is to ensure that the branding of the video is consistent with other videos that are produced by that brand, and that the video is being posted from a verified account. For example, Word On Fire has a verified account on YouTube that they post from, and each of their videos has an identifiable look and feel to them. One red flag would be if you came across a video of Bishop Barron that was not posted by the official Word On Fire account or another trusted Catholic source. Similarly, legitimate videos of Pope Leo XIV delivering a homily or giving an address during a general audience will be posted via official channels such as Vatican News, EWTN News or Catholic News Service. Be wary of videos that are posted through other unverified or suspicious channels.
2. Verify and cross-check the source
If you come across a video or an article that seems like the real deal but the message or content feels unusual, it’s a good idea to verify and cross-check what is being said with other trusted sources. Catholic news outlets such as National Catholic Register, The Pillar and Catholic News Agency are reliable and reputable sources when it comes to reporting what the Pope did or didn’t say; if you watch what you assume to be a real video where the Holy Father says something outlandish, a quick search on one of the aforementioned websites will usually confirm whether or not he actually said that. Although the digital age has its drawbacks (like AI-generated content), it also has its advantages, one of which is having access to a wealth of information and the means to find the truth. This principle also applies to written content as well as images.
3. Pay close attention to unusual language, movements or distortions
As AI-generated content becomes more advanced, it is becoming harder and harder to spot. Even so, it still has certain qualities and adheres to certain patterns that can be identified by those with a keen eye. AI-generated videos are often imperfect when it comes to imitating the intricacies of human movement and behavior. This is especially true when it comes to facial expressions, eyes and hands. Any unnatural movements you notice are a tell-tale sign that the video was made by AI. For AI-generated images, there are very often distortions and inconsistent details that can be seen if you look close enough. AI has an especially hard time reproducing human hands. Last but not least, while AI-generated text can be difficult to discern, it oftentimes gives itself away through its use of repetitive phrasing, abrupt shifts in tone, excessive jargon and formulaic execution.
4. Don’t fall for sensationalism
A good rule of thumb for spotting AI-generated content is if you scroll past something that seems excessively sensational or shocking, then the odds are pretty good it was made by AI. This is especially true when it comes to videos that feature public figures, such as the Pope. Clickbait is one of the unfortunate byproducts of the Internet age, and AI has only made it easier to create content that is meant to deceive and divide people. So, if a video pops up in your YouTube feed that appears to show Pope Leo XIV saying that the Church is changing its teaching on the sanctity of life, you can be sure that someone sinister is behind it, and they’re profiting off of your click and sowing division in the process. Don’t fall for it!
5. Trust your God-given gut
Lastly and most importantly, trust the intellect and common sense that God instilled in you. Our ability to distinguish what is true, good and beautiful is innate to our very being, and capable of being developed through the virtue of prudence or practical wisdom. With the advent of AI, it is more important than ever that we learn to rely on our God-given gut instincts to determine what is real — that is, what was made by human beings — and what was generated by a machine. If your gut is telling you that something was created by AI and is not real, trust it. Ask the Lord to give you eyes to see and appreciate the “work of human hands” anew, and use the reason he gave you as a means to prevent yourself from being digitally duped.
Aaron Lambert is a writer from Denver.
