Don't Be Fooled: AI-Generated Crystal Images Are Everywhere

Major advancements in artificial intelligence in recent years have made it harder to tell what’s real and what’s fake – not just in pictures of people, but also in product listings. And yes, this includes crystals.

AI-generated images are popping up all over social media, websites, and even in supposedly educational crystal books. Some of them look so real it’s scary. But when you stop and look a bit closer, you’ll often find tell-tale signs that something’s not quite right.

Let’s break it down and help you stay crystal clear when it comes to spotting AI fakes.

Late-Night Scrolling: A Familiar Trap

So, (this is what I saw the other evening) you’re relaxing on the couch, scrolling through your feed, and – boom – a stunning Black Tourmaline with Smoky Quartz pops up. You stop and stare. “Wow, those perfect points! That glossy finish!”

But hang on… that Black Tourmaline has crystal terminations like Quartz? And that Smoky Quartz doesn’t even have growth lines or any proper structure? All 50 points look polished and the same. That’s not how nature works.

To get a piece looking like that, you’d have to hand-carve every point, which not only ruins the stone but would cost a fortune. And yet there it is – looking magical and flawless. And the comments? “OMG, how much?” “I need this!” Few people stop to question if it's even real. But the ones that do get overlooked.

(This image above has been created for this blog on Chat GPT. 7/8/2025, we will pick apart at the end of this blog.)

Spotting the Signs – Does the Image Make Sense?

AI crystal images often have a weird sheen, blurry patches, or inconsistent lighting. Some look almost too perfect. The light doesn’t fall naturally, or the background has strange textures.

If the image features a person, take a closer look:
👀 Do they have five fingers?
👀 Is the hair of other body parts blurring into the stone, background?
👀 Are there extra teeth or odd, uneven clothing?

Is there a person in the video holding a 5kg geode like they're wiping around a bit of polystyrene?

It’s spooky how good AI has become, but it still slips up. In videos, things might suddenly morph or shimmer unnaturally. And yet, many viewers don’t notice….. particularly when scrolling on their phone.

Only One Angle for a product? That’s a Red Flag

Real sellers – like me – usually post multiple angles of a product on their selling platform. You’ll see close-ups of the base, back, inclusions, and even any chips or flaws.

If there’s only one image, and it’s placed in several fake “scenes,” that’s often a giveaway that it’s AI-generated. These pictures are made to look pretty, not to give you a real view of what you're buying. I know some lovely crystal sellers will take their authentic image and edit it to have a white background. I don’t tend to do this as I don’t have the knowledge (yet), but I do love getting out in nature, listening to the Tuis in the tree next to my crystal shop. Not to mention my macro lens getting up close and personal with the rocks. 

Read the Description Carefully – Really Read It

Some sellers sneak in phrases like:

• “Gem-inspired”

• “Crystal-style”

• “Mineral-like”

Or they’ll bury a note in tiny text saying the image is for illustration only. That’s how they protect themselves from getting into trouble when the item turns up looking nothing like the photo (or doesn’t turn up at all).

Check the listing for proper dimensions, materials, and disclaimers. If it’s vague, steer clear.

This is not to get mixed up with sellers actually selling mutable items on one listing. For example, a website listing for tumbled stones shows a photo of them and states, ‘sold per piece’, ‘item selected at random’. Nothing wrong with that as your still dealing with 'real photos'. 

Too Cheap to Be Real? Probably Is

Let’s be honest – we all love a bargain. But if something looks too good to be true, trust your gut. Sure, shop around, compare prices, but keep your thinking cap on.

I’ve had lovely customers call me on the phone just to check if I was real – and you know what? It was so nice to talk to them. It gave them reassurance, and honestly, it reminded me why I do what I do.

Nature Isn’t Perfect – And That’s a Good Thing

Crystals aren’t all perfect points and symmetry. You’re going to get inclusions, lines, banding that doesn’t match, and other natural quirks. That’s what makes them beautiful.

But AI doesn’t always understand that. It tends to repeat patterns unnaturally. For example, the Tourmaline with the Quartz points I mentioned up top. This doesn’t happen in nature. Things like agates, opals, and other mottled type stones without crystal systems can be more confusing. Yes, Agates do have banding. But sometimes they are not perfect if nature has decided to make them not so imperfect. And of course, AI can be imperfect as well. If you're confused. Go back to basics. Look for the inconsistent sheen and the blurry lines between the product and the background. Can you ring them? Multable photos?

Watch Out for “Dis-Functional” Crystal Products

Some AI-generated listings are trying to sell things like:

• Dyed agate drinking mugs

• Rose Quartz cooking pots

• Amethyst headboards

Sounds cool, right? But totally impractical or even unsafe. Rose Quartz has natural fractures and can break. Many crystals crack under sudden temperature changes. So why would you put a hot liquid in a cold rose quartz mug. (They do actually make real drinking vessels out of crystal. If you decide to buy one or a set, please only have it for aesthetics, as it may not be safe to drink from. And seriously – would you want to bonk your head on an Amethyst cluster every morning, waking up?

Think about it: Is this item something a real lapidary or mineral collector would make? How would you keep it clean? How would it fit in everyday life?

What About Books and Content?

Yes, AI is also creeping into crystal books. If you don’t recognise the author or publisher, do a bit of digging. A self-published book isn’t automatically AI, but it’s worth checking, especially if it seems generic or soulless.

What are their intentions?

Why have they put this image on the internet?

Are they selling a product? Where is it coming from? What are their reviews? Do they seem authentic?

If I'm seeing it on Facebook, are they after clicks? Now, if you can create an AI video in 5 mins and I pop it onto YouTube, if it gets watched enough, that’s going to create a bit of income. Not much, but do that multiple times, and there you go. Your views, likes, and shares help them be seen. You're better off clicking and liking a local trusted crystal seller or some AI-generated blabla in the back to.

So What Can You Do About It?

✅ Get to know natural crystal structures – what’s normal for Quartz, Agate, Tourmaline, etc.
✅ Look for multiple photos – different angles, real lighting, not just staged perfection.
✅ Notice lighting and clarity – weird shadows or blur spots are red flags.
✅ Question practicality – would that crystal object actually work in real life?
✅ Support trusted sellers – the ones who show real stones, flaws and all. How about giving us a like, follow, and share, but not the AI-generated ones.

Don’t watch fake reels or ones you spot as a scam, unfollow, block, etc. There just after your clicks.  

Yes, I Use AI – But With Intention

Let me be real – yes, I do use AI. Mostly for funny memes or helping me get my thoughts out in a clear way. With dyslexia, sometimes it takes me hours (or even days!) to get words typed and structured properly. Tools like ChatGPT help me take all the knowledge in my head and shape it into something readable.

But – and this is important – I always double-check what it gives me (but then I can even miss stuff). AI tools aren’t perfect. They’ve made things up before, even when I’ve been super specific. So I treat AI like a helpful assistant, not a replacement for my voice, my experience, or the real-life crystals I’ve worked with for decades.

AI isn’t going anywhere. Like most things, it can be used for good or not-so-good. It’s all about how we use it and whether we stay aware. Think about when TV first came out – some people thought it was the devil’s work or would ruin society. But like anything, it depends on how it’s used. Does it benefit you or fool you? Empower you or undermine you?

It’s about balance. And having good intentions.

And let’s face it, we’ve kind of seen this coming for years. Even Star Trek: The Next Generation hinted at it – remember the holodeck, where Geordi La Forge created a character to help with problem-solving? Let’s just say boundaries were crossed there too!

What I’m getting at is this: AI is a double-edged sword. But we can keep ourselves safe, informed, and grounded in truth. We just need to stay curious and a little cautious, especially in the crystal world.

Final Thoughts: Stay Sharp, Stay Grounded

Scammers don’t discriminate. We’ve all been fooled at some point. But these days, a healthy dose of scepticism is one of the best tools you can have.

If the image is clearly fantasy or just a bit of fun, there’s usually no harm done. But if it’s trying to trick you into buying a fake or non-existent crystal, that's a bit not good. And all the AI-generated content, how about liking real businesses selling real honest crystals. Support local, it is a win-win. 

So always ask yourself:

• What is this image trying to do?

• Is it just for laughs?

• Or is it trying to make a sale under false pretences?

Let’s not fall for it.

The more you learn, the easier it is to spot the fakes and support the real.

Before I forget, let's pick that image above. The Black Tourmaline Crystals tops are NOT consistent and do not conform to the typical Tourmaline Crystal configuration. The lines up the side are two perfect. The Smoky quartz point is too matt with no growth lines as if it is polished. The direction of light is about off. What else can you see? 

Stay sharp. Stay grounded. Stay magical.

With love and sparkle,
Kristy 🌿
Blissful Things – Real Rocks, Real People, Real Magic