Artificial intelligence has become so advanced that distinguishing between what’s real and what’s generated is now a legitimate challenge. From photorealistic portraits to near-perfect landscapes, AI can mimic reality with astonishing accuracy — and that’s exactly what inspired the latest challenge from NextGen Horizon.

This fall, students are invited to participate in a friendly competition designed to test their perception, creativity, and critical thinking. The goal is simple: decide which images are real photographs and which were created entirely by AI. But as AI continues to evolve, spotting the difference might not be as easy as it seems.

Each round of the challenge will feature a curated set of images posted on Instagram (@nextgenhorizon). Participants will have to rely on subtle visual clues — lighting, composition, texture — to make their guesses. At the end of each round, we’ll reveal which images were genuine and which were synthetic, and recognize the top scorers who got it right.

The contest will run until September 30, 2025, and is open to students ages 11 to 18. A grand prize will be awarded to the top participant at the end of the competition — details to be announced soon.

By participating, students will gain more than a prize. They’ll learn to question what they see, understand how AI image models work, and explore the role of technology in shaping the future of creativity and truth.

Think you can beat AI? There’s only one way to find out.

Follow @nextgenhorizon on Instagram and join the challenge.

Think you can tell the difference? Below are two nearly identical scenes — one captured by a real camera, the other generated entirely by AI. Study the details, the lighting, and the texture of the rocks. Then make your call: which image is real?