A look at how the industry can turn AI into a powerful scam-fighting tool
Artificial intelligence (AI) has advanced exponentially in recent years, but the truth is that AI technology is a double-edged sword. While AI helps with countless innocent daily queries and enhancing efficiency and innovation for the general public, it also empowers cyber criminals with a sophisticated toolbox for scams and other deception. And as scams become more advanced, service providers and cyber security companies need to embrace AI – it could be the key to stronger, more intuitive scam protection.
The AI Boom and Its Dark Side
Before November 30, 2022, AI was largely a futuristic concept, discussed in sci-fi movies and by tech enthusiasts. However, with the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, AI rapidly became mainstream, sparking a generative AI boom. Today, AI tools assist with everything from answering queries to automating workflows. But as AI enhances daily life, it also presents new risks – making scams easier to create, deploy, and disguise.
Gone are the days when cyber criminals needed advanced technical skills. AI technology in 2025 enables anyone to craft convincing scams with minimal effort. As little as a couple years ago, scammers needed advanced and specific knowledge to create advanced scams like deepfake voice technology, caller ID spoofing, phishing and more. As fraudsters take advantage of AI-generated content, these phishing emails, phone calls, texts and fake websites have become nearly indistinguishable from legitimate sources.
AI’s Evolution: Progress at a Cost
AI’s rapid development also comes with significant consequences. While it’s a powerful technological breakthrough, its impact can be significant and damaging when it is misused:
- Energy Consumption: AI models require immense computational power, straining power grids and increasing carbon footprints.
- Bias and Misinformation: AI outputs often reflect biases in training data, perpetuating outdated views or incorrect information.
- Surveillance Risks: AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data raises concerns about privacy and ethical misuse.
- Job Displacement: Automation threatens traditional jobs, shifting workforce dynamics across industries.
Despite these challenges, AI remains a groundbreaking force. The question now is whether it is being used in alignment with its original vision.
AI’s Original Purpose: Have We Lost Our Way?
AI was initially envisioned as a tool to enhance human capabilities:
- 1950: Alan Turing asked, “Can machines think?” and introduced the Turing Test.
- 1956: John McCarthy coined “artificial intelligence,” imagining independent problem-solving machines.
- 1990: Apple’s Knowledge Navigator concept predicted AI-driven personal assistants.
- 2015: OpenAI was founded with a mission to ensure AI benefits all of humanity.
Despite these aspirations, AI development has largely been driven by corporate interests, prioritizing cost-cutting and efficiency over human-centric benefits. Instead of personalized AI agents, we have massive platforms optimized for business needs rather than individual user goals.
Harnessing AI for Scam Protection
While AI has made scams more sophisticated, it can also be the anti-scam solution. Instead of just enhancing corporate efficiency, AI should serve as a trusted companion for corporations and consumers alike, protecting against digital threats in real time.
The strategic application of AI can actually flip the script, making digital interactions safer. The key to protecting consumers from scams is to integrate AI into their daily lives, not just as a tool but as an active guardian against scams.
A Holistic Approach to Security:
- Prevention: AI-driven monitoring can detect and flag suspicious activity before scams reach consumers.
- Protection: Real-time security tools use machine learning to identify and block threats as they emerge.
- Recovery: AI can assist in fraud resolution, helping victims recover stolen assets and secure their accounts.
Putting People First in AI Protection
Consumers already trust service providers: 81% trust their mobile or broadband operators, while 71% rely on insurance companies for internet security. By embedding AI-driven scam protection within these trusted services, we can bring the original vision of AI to life: technology that serves and protects everyday people.
Bottom line, AI is not inherently good or bad. It’s how we use it that matters. By harnessing AI and integrating it as a protective companion, we can turn it into a powerful ally against the growing threat of cyber scams. A people-first approach ensures that AI works for us – not against us – in the fight against digital fraud.
