Verdict
SightEngine ranks #1 among tested AI detectors with an overall accuracy of 92.4% across 263 images. It performs strongest against Recraft v3 images (100% detection rate) but struggles with Hunyuan Image 3.0 content (only 50% detected). With a 2.6% false positive rate, it rarely misidentifies real photos.
Hardest to Detect Models
AI models with the lowest detection rate by SightEngine.
Arena Performance
Detection by AI Model
Benchmark Methodology
SightEngine was evaluated on a curated dataset of 263 images across 19 AI image generators and 5 watermark types, including models like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, DALL-E 3, Flux, and others. The dataset also includes real photographs from verified sources to measure false positive rates.
All detectors are tested under identical conditions using the same images. We record each detector's classification (AI or Real) and confidence score, then compute three key metrics: Accuracy (percentage of correct predictions), False Positive Rate (real images incorrectly flagged as AI), and False Negative Rate (AI images missed by the detector).
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See the Difference
Drag the slider to compare before and after. AI watermarks removed, quality preserved.
Portrait Photo
Street Photography
AI Art
Digital Illustration
What is SightEngine?
SightEngine is a comprehensive image and video moderation platform that provides real-time AI content detection APIs. Used by major platforms worldwide, SightEngine offers automated content analysis including AI-generated image detection, NSFW filtering, violence detection, text recognition, and more.
The platform processes billions of images monthly, making it one of the most battle-tested content moderation solutions available.
How SightEngine AI Detection Works
SightEngine's AI detection employs multiple analysis techniques:
Deep Learning Classification
- Proprietary neural networks trained on extensive datasets
- Multi-model ensemble for robust detection
- Continuous updates incorporating new AI generator signatures
- Transfer learning adapting to emerging generation techniques
Signal Analysis
- Artifact detection - Identifying telltale signs of AI generation
- Texture analysis - Examining patterns typical of diffusion models
- Frequency inspection - Analyzing spectral characteristics
- Statistical anomaly detection - Comparing against natural image distributions
Generator Recognition
SightEngine can identify content from:
- Stable Diffusion and variants
- Midjourney
- DALL-E
- Adobe Firefly
- Other major AI generators
Key Features
Comprehensive Moderation Suite
AI detection is part of a broader platform including:
- NSFW/adult content detection
- Violence and gore detection
- Hate symbols recognition
- Text/OCR extraction
- Face detection and analysis
- Celebrity recognition
- Quality assessment
Real-Time API
- Sub-second response times
- High availability infrastructure
- Scalable to billions of requests
- Global edge deployment
Flexible Integration
- RESTful API
- Client libraries for major languages
- Webhook callbacks
- Pre-signed URL support
- Batch processing
Detailed Results
- Confidence scores for AI detection
- Breakdown of detected signals
- Generator identification when possible
- Combined moderation results
Accuracy Performance
SightEngine achieves strong AI detection accuracy:
- 88-95% accuracy on common AI generators
- 90%+ on popular models like Midjourney and DALL-E
- Low false positive rate on real photographs
- Robust against common image modifications
Accuracy is regularly validated through third-party benchmarks and customer deployments.
Pricing Model
SightEngine offers transparent pricing:
- Free tier - 500 operations/month for testing
- Pay-as-you-go - Per-operation pricing
- Volume plans - Discounts for committed usage
- Enterprise - Custom pricing for high-volume needs
Unlike some competitors, SightEngine publishes pricing publicly, making cost estimation straightforward.
Use Cases
- Social platforms - Moderating user-generated content
- Dating apps - Verifying profile photos
- Marketplaces - Screening product images
- Stock sites - Detecting AI submissions
- News media - Verifying image authenticity
- Gaming platforms - Moderating uploaded content
Integration Examples
SightEngine provides straightforward API integration:
POST https://api.sightengine.com/1.0/check.json
- Upload image or provide URL
- Specify models to run (ai-generated, nudity, etc.)
- Receive JSON response with all results
Client libraries available for:
- Python
- Node.js
- PHP
- Ruby
- Java
- Go
Limitations
- Requires internet connectivity for API calls
- No on-premise deployment option
- Newest AI generators may temporarily evade detection
- Heavy post-processing can reduce accuracy
- Some features require higher-tier plans
Comparison with Alternatives
| Feature | SightEngine | Hive | Free Detectors |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Detection Accuracy | 88-95% | 92-98% | 70-85% |
| Free Tier | Yes (500/mo) | No | Yes |
| Public Pricing | Yes | No | N/A |
| Moderation Suite | Comprehensive | Comprehensive | Detection only |
| Documentation | Excellent | Good | Variable |
Our Benchmark Results
We've extensively tested SightEngine against multiple AI generators and compared performance with other detection services. View our detailed benchmarks to see accuracy rates, response times, and value analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
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