Hello subscribers! Thanks to all readers of WIRED’s AI Unlocked newsletter who followed our most recent conversation on money and artificial intelligence scams. I had a lot of fun interacting with readers and answering more questions live.
If you missed the broadcast, a full recording is available here for you to watch at any time, along with the previous two live broadcasts of the AI Series Unlocked are also available. Subscribers can watch the the first here and the the second here.
Katie Drummond, WIRED’s Global Editorial Director, kicked off our discussion this time, telling us how her father was recently approached by a scam caller who tried to trick him with a voice that sounded like his. Fortunately, no money was lost during this interaction, but it is a clear reminder that AI-based scams are not a future concern, but an issue worth addressing right now. To protect yourself and your loved ones, you may wish to set up a secret password which you can use to authenticate yourself during calls, in case of emergency.
We were also joined by Andrew Couts, WIRED’s senior editor specializing in security and investigations. Couts shared his insights into the different approaches scammers use, including how different groups are now using AI-based tools to fake live videos and extract money from people. He reminded viewers to pay attention to social engineering methods often used by scammers, such as creating a sense of urgency or encouraging you not to tell anyone. You can learn more specifically about AI-related scam calls here.
During the live event, I spoke about my recent investigation into AI Financial Advisors and how it reminded me to remain skeptical of startups that claim to help solve money problems. Rather than using my banking information to help me financially, AI advisors appeared to be focused on getting me to take out high-fee cash advances or high-interest personal loans.
If you would like to contact me and ask additional, thoughtful questions about the use of generative AI and chatbot tools in your daily life, my inbox remains open: [email protected]. I always love hearing from WIRED subscribers, so no question is too basic or too specialized to ask. Our next live event is scheduled for February, so keep an eye on your inbox for more details soon.