How can I tell if a photo, video or voice note is AI-made, and what do the 'AI' labels mean?

Check the source more than the pixels: who posted it first, whether a trusted outlet carries it, whether the claim fits. Visual tells (lips out of sync, odd blinking, a flat voice) are getting harder to see. Labels are growing: India's amended IT Rules, in force since 20 February 2026, require platforms to label AI-made audio and video prominently; the EU AI Act requires deepfakes to be disclosed from 2 August 2026; and Instagram now marks accounts whose person is AI-made 'AI-generated profile'. A missing label proves nothing. In the Gemini app you can upload a file and ask if it was made with Google AI: it reads Google's SynthID watermark, used on over 20 billion pieces of content, but cannot vouch for other companies' tools.