The popularity of AI tools is rising at a phenomenal speed. Even though they are indeed quite helpful in many ways, over-relying on them can lead to unpleasant consequences, especially when it comes to creating unique content.
No matter if you are a student who needs to write a research paper or a blogger writing posts on social media, it is no longer enough to just scan for plagiarism before revealing your masterpiece to the audience. You also need to ensure your writing does not contain AI-generated content. Many educational institutions use AI detectors to spot machine-based texts and have penalties for those students who heavily rely on this modern technology. Content makers who post their texts online may face another type of penalty if they do the same. Search engine bots often define this type of content as unhelpful for readers. It means that such internet resources will never get to the top of search results.
Now that we’ve established the significance of creating plagiarism- and AI-free content, let’s find out how to choose an effective online checker.
Tips on Choosing a Reliable Plagiarism and AI Checker
Here are some key features you need to look for in an online tool to find the one that provides accurate AI and plagiarism reports.
AI-Specific Detection
Ensure the tool is designed to specifically detect AI-generated content. It’s a great tip but how can you do that? You can read the description of the tool and look for features that can distinguish between human-written and AI-generated text. Try to find the information about the algorithms the tool uses.
For instance, does it search for unique patterns of AI-generated content that distinguish it from human-written text? These patterns may include repetitive phrases, lack of coherence, and overly complex or simplistic language. Also, these algorithms may use techniques such as machine learning and natural language processing.
Regular Updates
The AI landscape is evolving very quickly. Therefore, your task is to find a tool with regular updates. You will be able to keep pace with new AI models and techniques and benefit from them. Even though many tools have only fee-based options when it comes to the updated versions, you may consider paying for the new models to get more accurate results.
Accuracy
As long as we’ve already mentioned the topic of accuracy, let’s look at it closely. It is a good idea to look for tools that have been tested and validated for their accuracy in detecting AI-generated content. You can learn more about these characteristics from the tool’s reviews and testimonials.
User-Friendliness
No matter how many great features a tool may have, it is not helpful if you can’t understand how to use it. It’s like having an expensive new gadget that looks amazing and has wonderful reviews but its manual makes no sense. Therefore, it should have a clear interface and intuitive features.
Note that different tools have different types of reports. Some of them just show you the total percentage of AI-generated content, while others provide you with more detailed results and mark the sentences that seem to be machine-based. Rely on your needs to make the right choice.
Integration and Customization
If you are a content creator or a hard-working student, you most probably use other content management or writing tools, except plagiarism checkers. It would be a great advantage of an online checker if it could integrate seamlessly into the tools you already use. Check if it’s possible and what are the terms. Usually, you will have to buy a fee-based version to get access to the tool integration. Also, look for tools that allow you to customize settings, such as the sensitivity of the AI detection algorithm.
Privacy and Security
This one is a crucial point because you will paste or upload your texts to an unknown online tool. You have to be sure it protects your data and adheres to privacy regulations. You can read this section carefully in the tool’s description and check if there is a possibility to make the necessary changes in its settings.
Support
Good customer support is essential in case you come across any problems or have questions. Check the available options to communicate with the support team and its availability time-wise. Some services offer 24/7 support which is rather convenient if you prefer working very early in the morning or late at night.
Cost
Consider your budget and choose a tool that offers the best value for money. Some tools may have free versions or trial periods which allows you to test them and decide whether they are worth paying for. If there is no trial period, you can consider buying the cheapest package first to explore the tool’s strengths and weaknesses. Also, if you need to check large volumes of content at once, consider a tool that offers bulk-checking features and has a reasonable price. After all, the more you use it, the larger the discount should be, right?
Additional Features
Some tools have additional features like grammar checking, style analysis, or citation management. Decide whether these features are important to you and prioritize the tools that meet the whole list of your requirements.
Reasons to Check Your Content for AI
If you still think that AI checkers are not that important nowadays, here are some more reasons for you to consider.
- Maintaining authenticity. AI-generated content can often lack the depth and personal touch. By detecting AI in your writing, you can ensure that the content you're creating is authentic and valuable for the readers.
- Preventing misinformation. The content you create using AI tools can be misleading or contain false information. If you read the tiny caution text that tools like Gemini and Chat GPT have, you will see that the developers ask users to double-check the facts but unfortunately, they rarely do. Therefore, checking content for AI helps to prevent the spread of misinformation.
- Supporting human creatives. Detecting AI-generated content helps to support human creatives and writers, who bring unique perspectives to their work.
So yes, even though using the texts generated by a machine is much easier than writing them from scratch, there is little to no value in such content. Use accurate AI detectors to bring your writing to the next level.