Dev.to
5/12/2026

I built a free AI tell detector after my own Reddit account got 2 'all comments are AI generated' callouts in one day
Short summary
Author's Reddit comments were flagged as AI-generated by moderators, prompting detailed analysis of 15+ AI writing tells including em-dashes, buzzwords, metaphor clusters, uniform sentence length, and formal openers. Built a free detector tool highlighting these patterns to help writers remove AI fingerprints and improve authenticity and conversion. Planning to open-source the detection rules and ship an AI rewriter preserving the writer's voice.
- •Identified 15+ AI fingerprints: em-dashes, buzzwords (leverage, seamless), metaphor clusters (realm, tapestry), uniform sentence length, formal transitions
- •Built free in-browser detector to highlight AI tells and help writers improve authenticity before posting to Reddit, email, or other channels
- •Tool drives conversion by removing AI-written content's reduced credibility; future paid rewriter will preserve individual voice
Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.
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