Get recognised faster: strategies against the drawing AI

1. Silhouette first, then the details

Start with the basic shape that makes the subject unambiguous: the frame with two wheels for a bicycle, the square with a triangle for a house, the round head with pointed ears for a cat. This core shape gives the AI the strongest signal. Details like windows, spokes or whiskers come afterwards – they only confirm the guess.

2. Draw big, centred and connected

Use the space. Very small sketches squeezed into a corner, or fragmented ones, are harder to interpret. A connected, centred subject matches what the AI saw most often during training – and is therefore recognised more reliably.

3. Less is more

Resist the urge to “beautify” your image. Extra strokes, shading or backgrounds add ambiguity and can even worsen recognition. If the AI is already confident, stop – every further stroke is wasted time.

4. Avoid mix-ups on purpose

Many words are similar in their basic shape. So emphasise the one feature that makes your word unique:

• Cat vs. dog: pointed ears (cat) versus floppy ears (dog).
• Fish vs. whale: emphasise the shape and the tail fin.
• Sun vs. flower vs. star: make the ring of rays, the petals or the clear points distinct.

You'll find subject-specific guides in the guides section.

5. Watch the bars and react

The prediction bars are your live feedback. If your word is already near the top, just add the missing key feature. If the AI keeps suggesting something wrong, it's better to delete and re-lay the basic shape more clearly than to “rescue” the old image. Why the AI reacts this way is explained in Why an AI understands stick figures.

Read on

• The game rules at a glance
• Drawing guides for individual subjects
• Why an AI understands stick figures