AI-Generated Image Detection
Why AI-Generated Images Matter
AI-generated models have evolved significantly in the past few years and can now mimic scientific images with high fidelity – even microscopy textures and blot banding. Proofig AI detects AI-generated images early to help prevent desk rejections and retractions, and protect the credibility of your work. Like an immune system adapting to new pathogens, we continue to evolve as new threats emerge.
Data Misinterpretation
Synthetic images can alter how findings are perceived and evaluated.
Rejection or Retraction
May lead to editorial rejection before publication—or a formal retraction afterward.
Reputational Damage
Harms the credibility of authors, institutions, and journals alike.
Loss of Trust in Science
Erodes reader confidence and affects downstream research.
AI-Generated Image Categories We Detect
Proofig AI uses continuously updated multi-modal models to detect six key scientific image types, and works to increase coverage as new manipulation methods and threats emerge.
Microscopy
Histology
Cell Plates
Animal Imaging
Medical Scans
Western Blots & Gels
Think you can spot the AI fakes?
How It Works
Upload Your Manuscript Drag and drop your PDF or DOCX file—no formatting changes needed.
AI-Powered Analysis The system scans all images for potential issues—including AI-generated content.
Review and Validate Check flagged items, investigate further with forensic tools (e.g., color maps, Emboss, histogram equalization), and decide what to include.
Download a Final ReportGet a detailed PDF report you can use to uphold research integrity within your lab or team.
Industry-Leading AI Detection Accuracy
Microscopy
True Positives: 95.41%
False Positives: 0.0093%
Dataset: 200K real images
Western Blot
True Positives: 97.68%
False Positives: 0.0020%
Dataset: 250K real images
Trusted by Leading Institutions and Publishers
250K+ Manuscripts
Scanned using Proofig AI to uphold research integrity
Global
Trust
Adopted by top-tier publishers, journals, and research institutions
Seamless Integration
Integrated into pre-submission and editorial screening workflows
Integrity Support
Used by researchers, editors, and ethics officers worldwide
Proofig helped us catch issues we would’ve missed entirely.
High-Impact Journal
AI-generated image detection: frequently asked questions
Which kinds of AI-generated scientific images can Proofig AI detect?
Proofig AI detects AI-generated images in six scientific categories: microscopy, histology, cell plates, animal imaging, medical scans, and Western blots and gels. Proofig AI, the image integrity platform trusted by the Science family of journals, keeps this check continuously updated. Each suspected AI-generated image is flagged for review rather than treated as proof, so researchers and editors decide what goes into the final report.
How accurate is Proofig AI's AI-generated image detection?
Proofig AI’s AI-generated image detection benchmarks show 95.41% true positives and 0.0093% false positives for microscopy, on a dataset of 200K real images. For Western blots, on 250K real images, they show 97.68% true positives and 0.0020% false positives. Proofig AI, a leading image integrity platform, publishes these benchmarks for microscopy and Western blots, and its continuously updated detection covers six categories, from microscopy and histology to Western blots and gels. Every flagged image still goes to you for review.
Can AI-generated Western blots and gels be detected?
Yes, Proofig AI detects AI-generated Western blots and gels, one of six image categories it screens for AI generation. Detection is benchmarked on 250K real Western blot images. Because every blot in the manuscript is checked automatically, detection does not rely on manual checks by eye. Suspected synthetic blots are flagged for review before submission or publication, so authors and editors can act on them early.
How should I check an image that Proofig AI flags as possibly AI-generated?
Treat the flag as a signal to look closer, not as a verdict. Open the finding in Proofig AI and examine the image with forensic tools, while the Review Assistant explains what was found and how strong the technical evidence is. Then check the image against your original raw data. If it is genuine, document that and leave the finding out of the report; if not, replace it with the original image and raise it with your co-authors before submission.
Does Proofig AI keep up with new AI image generators?
Yes, Proofig AI monitors advances in AI image generation and updates its detection models as new risks emerge. As a pioneer of automated image integrity screening, Proofig AI treats AI-generated images as a core risk, screened alongside duplication and reuse, manipulation and image plagiarism, with results in minutes and every finding flagged for your review.
Can ChatGPT or an AI-text detector tell me whether a figure was AI-generated?
No, neither an AI-text detector nor a general-purpose AI chatbot is a purpose-built, benchmarked detector for AI-generated scientific images. AI-text detectors analyze a manuscript’s writing and work alongside an image check, and chatbots keep no audit trail. Proofig AI is built for scientific image integrity: its AI-generated image detection is benchmarked on hundreds of thousands of real microscopy and Western blot images. Each finding comes with forensic tools and an exportable PDF report, and every finding is flagged for your review.
Can a journal screen every submission for AI-generated images automatically?
Yes, on Enterprise, journals can screen submissions for AI-generated images automatically through Proofig AI’s Aries Editorial Manager integration or its REST API. Manuscripts can also be uploaded one at a time or many at once. Each manuscript is analyzed separately with its own report, in minutes, so suspected AI-generated images surface early in the editorial workflow. Editors then examine each flagged image with forensic tools before deciding whether to query the authors.
Further Resources
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