Real or AI?
Some of these startups are real companies tracked in the directory. Some we invented. 12 rounds — can you spot the fakes?
Frequently asked questions
›How does the Real or AI game work?
Each round shows one company name and one tagline, and you decide whether it belongs to a real AI startup or an invented one. A game is 12 rounds — 7 companies pulled at random from the NeuronFeed directory and 5 written by us. After every guess the answer is revealed, and real companies link straight to their directory profile.
›Are the real startups actual companies?
Yes. The real entries are published startups in the NeuronFeed database, shown with their own name and their own tagline — nothing is paraphrased. The pool is restricted to companies with under $100M in disclosed funding, so household names do not give the round away.
›Where do the fake startups come from?
The fakes are a fixed, hand-written pool of plausible-sounding company names and taglines. They are checked so they do not collide with real companies in the directory, and five are drawn at random each game.
›Is Real or AI free to play?
Yes, it is free and there is no signup or account. The game runs in your browser and fetches a fresh set of companies from the directory each time you start.
›Can I play more than once?
Yes. Hit Restart or Play again and a new random selection is drawn, so the real startups and the fakes differ from round to round. There is no daily limit.
›How do you tell a real AI startup from a made-up one?
Specificity is the strongest signal: real companies usually name a concrete customer, workflow, or industry rather than a generic capability. Beyond that, check whether the company has a profile, funding history, and category listing in a directory — invented names have no traceable footprint. This game is a quick way to test how well that instinct actually holds up.