Claire FountainGoogle seems to have new algorithms every other day but… are they onto you? Can they tell whether you’re using AI-generated writers for your content?
The short answer is, eh, yeah, sort of. Google can often detect AI-generated content.
Let’s get into what that means for your content production and the steps you can take to reduce the risk of getting flagged as AI-generated content.
Best AI Detector
- Detector is part of our favorite AI writing tool for generating long blog posts
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Best AI Rewriter
- Detector is part of a simple rephrasing tool to quickly pass as human output
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- Both free & paid versions available
Table of Contents
- Google’s Official Statement & Guidelines on AI Content
- Why AI-Generated Content Goes Against Google’s Webmaster Guidelines
- Is AI Content Bad for SEO?
- How Can Google Detect AI Content?
- So, Can Google Detect AI Content?
- What Can I Do to Lower the Chances?
- What Are the Risks and Penalties with Google for AI Content?
- Is AI-Generated Content Worth the Risk?
- Understanding the Role of AI in SEO (and How You Can Leverage AI)
- Can Google Detect AI Writing Video
- FAQs
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Google’s Official Statement & Guidelines on AI Content
Officially, Google had this to say in their Google Search Essentials (formerly Webmaster Guidelines) about what they consider to be AI and what they do in response to it:
“Automatically generated (also called “auto-generated”—content) is content that’s been generated programmatically. In cases where it’s intended to manipulate search rankings and not help users, Google may take action on such content. Some example cases include, but are not limited to:
- Text that makes no sense to the reader but which may contain search keywords.
- Text translated by an automated tool without human review or curation before publishing.
- Text generated through automated processes, such as Markov chains.
- Text generated using automated synonymizing or obfuscation techniques.
- Text generated from scraping Atom/RSS feeds or search results.fv
- Stitching or combining content from different web pages without adding sufficient value.”
So, essentially, it’s technically against Google’s Webmaster guidelines.
Why AI-Generated Content Goes Against Google’s Webmaster Guidelines
AI-generated content goes against Google’s Webmaster Guidelines because it… always has.
During a recent Google SEO office hours, Google’s Search Advocate John Mueller reiterated that AI writing tools are considered AI-generated content, which has long been against the webmaster guidelines.
During these office hours, Mueller went so far as to say that automatically generated content is spam, which, of course, isn’t something that Google has ever been cool with.
Is AI Content Bad for SEO?
Yes, detectable AI content is bad for SEO.
Since Google has stated that AI content goes against its guidelines, it’s safe to say that they will punish your content if they can tell it’s written by AI.
It’s important to note that they haven’t explicitly stated what the “punishment” will entail. Still, we’re pretty sure it will mess with SEO.
How Can Google Detect AI Content?
So how can Google tell what is and isn’t AI content?
In a lot of cases, you could probably detect AI content just with your eyes. Computers can’t write like people, so if you’re looking for artificial writing, you can find it easily.
This is because AI writing has patterns. It’s incapable of creating original content and sort of mashes together existing information on the internet together. These patterns are detectable and pretty obvious to Google.
In earlier iterations of AI content, this was even more obvious. But machine learning has come a long way.
Today’s technology known as GPT-3, or the third-generation Generative Pre-trained Transformer, is an advanced neural network machine learning model. It has been significantly improved from earlier models and is now able to generate more human-like written content than ever before.
Though it has come a long way from its infancy, AI content is still lacking in that human element of surprise, and that’s how Google can sometimes separate the artificial from the human.
Below is a quick reference guide to help you understand the differences between human- and AI-written content.
Aspect | AI-Generated Content | Human Writing |
|---|---|---|
| Linguistic Analysis | Often lacks subtlety in language use; may have repetitive or formulaic structures. | Rich and varied in language use; demonstrates subtlety and complexity in structures. |
| Vocabulary Usage | Tends to use more common, predictable vocabulary; may lack domain-specific jargon unless specifically trained. | Employs a diverse range of vocabulary, including nuanced and domain-specific terms. |
| Sentence Structure | Generally uniform; often follows a predictable pattern. | More varied; includes complex and compound sentences, demonstrating a natural flow. |
| Nuanced Expressions | Struggles with idiomatic language, metaphors, and humor; may misinterpret or use them inappropriately. | Effectively uses idiomatic expressions, metaphors, and humor appropriately. |
| Contextual Depth | May lack depth in context; struggles with topics requiring deep understanding or background knowledge. | Provides in-depth context; capable of discussing topics that require background knowledge and insight. |
| Emotional Expression | Limited in conveying emotions; often comes across as neutral or factual. | Rich in emotional expression; can convey a wide range of emotions and tones. |
| Creativity and Originality | Often derivative, relying on existing content; struggles with creating truly original ideas. | Capable of original thought and creativity; can produce unique ideas and perspectives. |
| Adaptability | Limited ability to adapt to new or unexpected topics without prior training. | Highly adaptable; can understand and write about new or unexpected topics with ease. |
| Error Handling | May propagate factual inaccuracies or “hallucinate” details. | Can recognize and correct errors; less likely to propagate inaccuracies. |
| User Engagement | Content may lack the engaging elements that encourage user interaction and response. | More likely to engage users through relatable and compelling storytelling, arguments, or discussions. |
So, Can Google Detect AI Content?
Well, not in any way that they are willing to talk about.
When pressed, John Mueller declined to say definitively whether Google can or cannot detect AI content today.
It seems like if the AI content is poorly written and not checked by a real human before publishing, they can detect it. If it’s executed better, edited, and revised by a human being before publishing, it’s going to be harder for Google to detect it.
It’s more of an issue that Google can detect high-quality vs low-quality content, rather than “real” vs “fake” content.
Can Google Detect Jasper AI Content?
Yes, since Google can (in theory) detect AI-written content, it can detect Jasper AI content.
This is why we recommend getting a pair of human eyes on your AI content before publishing.
Can Google Detect ChatGPT Content?
Yes and no. Once again, ChatGPT is an AI writer (though it is a scary good one), meaning Google could detect it and penalize you for it.
However, ChatGPT is extremely advanced, so it’s likely to create content that is virtually undetectable.
If you’re not sure that it’s detectable, you can always ask ChatGPT to rewrite it for you and run it through one of the available AI detectors.
What Can I Do to Lower the Chances?
There are steps that you can take the lower the chances that your AI content will be detected by Google.
With how advanced AI writers have become, it doesn’t take all that much work to create AI-led content that flies under Google’s radar.
All you need to do is make sure that the content is looked at and edited by human eyes. Content should be fact-checked, spell-checked, tweaked, and revised for clarity, and have some personality worked in. It’s important to add all necessary information at the beginning as well since most AI tools need to be guided and given clear instructions to produce the best content.
Don’t just type a phrase in and then copy/paste the generated content to your site without looking at it.
Check out our list of the best AI detector tools. We also have a list of the best AI image detectors.
What Are the Risks and Penalties with Google for AI Content?
If Google catches you using AI-written content, will they do anything?
The webspam team at Google will take action if they catch AI-generated content on your site. What kinds of actions they will take is unclear, but it’s safe to say that it will mess with site rankings and SEO.
Is AI-Generated Content Worth the Risk?
With how much time and money AI-generated content can save, it’s worth taking the risk if you have the correct tools and team.
First, use a high-quality AI writer like Content at Scale. This will ensure the best possible AI content. They even offer a tool that will tell you how human-like your content is.
Then, always have a human look over everything. Never post generated content to your site without having someone really edit it.
Ultimately, Google hasn’t quite caught up with the newest AI writing tools, so it seems like a comparatively low risk for a high reward.
Understanding the Role of AI in SEO (and How You Can Leverage AI)
Navigating the world of SEO can feel like a maze. Well, you can leverage AI to become your personal guide through this maze. It's not just about stuffing keywords anymore. AI dives deep into understanding search queries, almost like it's reading the searcher's mind. It's about getting what people are really asking for and matching your content to their needs.
Think of AI as a behind-the-scenes whiz in SEO. It's quietly analyzing tons of data to spot trends and patterns – kind of like having a detective on your team. AI tools can suggest tweaks to make your content more Google-friendly, ensuring it's not just seen but also loved by search engines. It's always learning from new data, so your SEO strategy stays on point. So, while AI handles the heavy data lifting, you can focus on creating content that resonates and engages. It's like having a tech-savvy buddy in the ever-changing SEO landscape.
Can Google Detect AI Writing Video
FAQs
Can Google detect GPT-4 content?
Catching GPT-4 content is a bit tricky for Google. This AI is pretty adept at sounding human. But Google's always upping its game with some smart tech to spot those AI giveaways.
Will Google penalize you for AI-generated content?
Yes, Google might give a thumbs down to AI-made stuff, especially if it smells like it's just trying to game the SEO system. The trick is to keep your content real, valuable, and playing by Google's rules.
How can Google detect if something is AI-generated?
Absolutely. Google's like a detective, looking for clues in your writing. It checks for odd patterns or anything that doesn't quite sound like a person wrote it. Plus, it's all about the quality – if it's top-notch, you're in a better spot.
What is the best AI writing for Google search rankings?
For nailing those Google rankings, Content at Scale is the go-to. This AI still sounds pretty human, which is just what Google and readers love.
Why does Google hate AI content?
Google's not a fan of AI content mostly because it often misses that human touch – the original, creative stuff we all love. Google's all about keeping things real and valuable for us folks searching the web.
