Brace yourselves as we delve into the captivating yet somewhat alarming intersection of AI and deepfakes. Recent events have unveiled the power of this technology, both for good and for evil.

Recently, we’ve seen two significant instances where AI was used for nefarious purposes. The first involved a robocall impersonating President Joe Biden, telling New Hampshire residents not to vote. This marks the first known large-scale corporate fraud using deepfake technology.

The second incident was even more troubling. A multinational firm’s employee was tricked into a video conference with multiple deepfake personas, resulting in a loss of $25 million. This marks the first known large-scale corporate fraud using deepfake technology.

These incidents highlight the double-edged sword that is AI. On one hand, it’s an incredible tool that can revolutionize industries and improve our lives. On the other, it can be used for harmful intent.

In the US election, for instance, we might see AI being used in ways we’ve never seen before to sway voters. Remember when Barack Obama stated that he was elected on the back of social media? That was a relatively new phenomenon then, but now it’s common for us to receive electoral messages online.

The question arises: Did these deepfake creators break any rules or laws? While it’s unclear, there are likely laws against impersonation. However, the problem is that the people who are doing this kind of stuff are often ahead of the people trying to stop it.

As we move forward, it’s crucial to develop robust internal systems to detect and combat these misuses of AI. We always need to be mindful of what we’re being told online. Search for the source and originating truth behind the message and sender.

For now, in my advisory corporate conversations, I’ve suggested a really low key, old fashioned, safety guard for Board Members and Executives. When dealing online, share one unusual fact about yourself, offline, or one key safety word, that can act be asked of you, or you to others, when you need to 100% verify the person you’re speaking to is who they say they are and not some digital deepfake imposter.

I recently discussed this topic on air in my regular weekly segment on Hong Kong Radio 3 with James Ross. You can listen to the full interview by clicking on the link here (15 minutes 24 seconds).

So, let’s start a conversation. How do you think we can best navigate the challenges posed by AI and deepfakes? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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