My question was what else causes artifacts like that, precisely so I don’t misidentify AI.
If you don’t see anything odd about the snippets: Look at how her collar narrows into a strange spike; look at how the cat’s neck basically does the same.
Phones do post processing in order to make up for physical constraints of their cameras. I find Samsung’s blurs fur a bit and gives it that distinct look.
Look into how YT started uploading shorts in low definition and upscaled them with AI, giving legitimate videos that look.
Okay, so assuming this isn’t generated, what causes stuff like this?
My stock camera app has built in automatic post processing and it’s never been good at fur
Take it easy bro. Exhibit A: hair with stripes. Exhibit B: hair.
Non-subjective evidence is the source article from 2019. AI images in 2019 looked like this

My question was what else causes artifacts like that, precisely so I don’t misidentify AI.
If you don’t see anything odd about the snippets: Look at how her collar narrows into a strange spike; look at how the cat’s neck basically does the same.
The human collar is collar shaped. The cats are also wearing collars, it makes the fur stick up.
Phones do post processing in order to make up for physical constraints of their cameras. I find Samsung’s blurs fur a bit and gives it that distinct look.
Look into how YT started uploading shorts in low definition and upscaled them with AI, giving legitimate videos that look.