Catching a cheater is never easy, and if you’ve ever found yourself questioning your partner’s inexplicable evening meeting, or sudden passion for spin class, you might be asking how can you spot betrayal in your relationship?
We turned to AI language model ChatGPT, a chatbot that sifts through mountains of text, from books to blogs, to seek out the most common red flags in a relationship.
The result? Nine tell-tale signs that might suggest your partner is being less than faithful.
9 Ways to Spot a Cheater, According to ChatGPT
1. Changes in Communication
If your partner suddenly becomes secretive with their phone, adds new passwords, or avoids meaningful conversations, it could be a red flag. Avoiding eye contact or brushing off questions about their day may indicate they’re hiding something.
2. Behavior Shifts
Emotional distance or increased irritability when questioned about their whereabouts may signal infidelity. On the flip side, they might overcompensate with sudden acts of generosity or affection to mask guilt.
3. Physical Appearance
A sudden interest in looking good—new clothes, a change in hairstyle, or an intense focus on fitness—could mean they’re trying to impress someone else. If this change is unexplained or seems out of character, it’s worth noting.
A Newsweek graphic collage. We asked ChatGPT how you can spot a cheater.
Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty
4. Unexplained Absences
Frequent late nights, vague plans, or stories that don’t quite add up are classic signs. If they’re becoming less available or harder to reach, they may be spending time with someone else.
5. Changes in Intimacy
A drop in physical closeness, loss of interest in intimacy, or introducing new moves in the bedroom can signal romantic engagement with someone else. Both increases and decreases in affection can be telling.
6. Financial Irregularities
Unexplained expenses, such as random charges or secretive spending, might be a sign that your partner is spending money on someone else—whether it’s gifts, outings, or trips.
7. Social Media Activity
If they suddenly become more active on social media, reactivating old dating apps or creating secret accounts, this could suggest they’re engaging with someone new or trying to keep certain interactions hidden.
8. Inconsistent Stories
Contradictory explanations about where they’ve been or gaps in their schedule that don’t make sense can reveal dishonesty. If your partner is getting caught in lies, there’s likely more beneath the surface.
9. Gut Feeling
Sometimes the most telling sign is your own intuition. If you notice several of these behaviors and something just doesn’t feel right, it’s important to trust your instincts.
If Your Partner Wants To Cheat, They Will
Shelly Kessinger, a licensed counselor with Friendswood Marriage Counseling, told Newsweek the signs from ChatGPT were “pretty spot on,” but she did flag a few things of her own.
“If you are googling ‘how to spot a cheater,’ if you are googling their behaviors and trying to decipher what it means, that is a strong indicator that you already do not trust them,” Kessinger told Newsweek.
“Unfortunately, if your partner wants to cheat, they will. No amount of snooping will stop them. The best prevention for cheating is a healthy relationship, full of communication, laughter, trust, love, and respect,” she said.
