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Today, ammi.ai is coming to you from about 35,000 feet above sea level, currently above Montreal, Canada.

If there’s one thing that we’re all susceptible to, no matter if you’re on land, at sea, or mid-air, it’s a good old scam.

Scam calls, spam emails, sketchy WhatsApp messages, and questionable social media posts — we all get them. And AI makes scams scammier (aka harder to detect).

Why should Ammis care about scams?

As mothers, we’re now responsible for protecting our family's online safety alongside their physical and emotional wellbeing. These AI-powered scams not only disrupt our peace of mind, and violate our privacy, they can also be financially damaging.

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Dear Ammis, I know you have a lot on your plate and a lot to worry about as it is.

So here is a quick guide to existing and emerging AI-powered scams and what you can do to protect yourselves and your families from them.

Imagine getting a voicemail that sounds exactly like your child, desperately asking for help. It's a nightmare scenario that AI has made a reality.

Recent advancements in voice cloning technology allow scammers to create convincing fake voices using just a few seconds of audio. This means anyone who's ever posted a video online or spoken publicly could be at risk.

These scammers might use a cloned voice to:

• Claim they're in trouble while traveling

• Say they need money for car repairs or medical treatments

• Ask for urgent financial help

How can we protect ourselves?

1. Don't try to spot fake voices - even experts can be fooled.

2. Be wary of calls or messages from unknown numbers, even if the voice sounds familiar.

3. Always verify independently - contact your loved one directly through your usual channels.

4. Pause and think before responding to urgent requests.

Thanks to AI and data breaches, scammers now have the tools to create personalized phishing emails and messages. These aren't your run-of-the-mill "Click here!" scams anymore. They're using our personal information to craft believable, tailored messages that are tricky to detect.

For example:

• Instead of "Dear Customer," they might use your actual name.

• They could mention your recent online shopping habits or your location.

• They might reference specific stores or websites you've used.

So, an email that once said, "Dear Customer, please find your invoice attached," might now say, "Hi Sara! That cute bag you were eyeing at Target is now 50% off! Free shipping to Dallas if you use this link!"

How to combat phishing emails?

• These personalized scams are much harder to spot.

• They can be generated quickly and sent to thousands of people.

• They often look like they're from legitimate sources we trust.

Always double-check the sender's email address. They are usually a giveaway of a scam email:

And remember: When in doubt, don't click!

Imagine someone pretending to be you so convincingly that even your bank believes them. Thanks to data breaches and the information we share online, scammers now have enough pieces to create a digital version of you. They can use AI to:

• Mimic your voice

• Know personal details like your birthdate or SSN

• Potentially bypass security questions

Why is this dangerous?

• They could call customer service pretending to be you

• They might change passwords or gain access to your accounts

• They could even open new accounts in your name

How can we protect ourselves?

1. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all important accounts

2. Don't ignore security alerts - they're your first line of defense

3. Be very careful about sharing personal information online

4. Regularly check your accounts for suspicious activity

5. Consider using a password manager for extra security

Politicians are not the only targets of deepfakes. A sad, but very real use of deepfakes is to exploit everyday people by creating intimate or explicit images of them.

What's happening?

• AI can now create realistic-looking explicit images using just a face photo

• Scammers use these fake images for blackmail, threatening to share them unless paid

• Unlike old scams, no real intimate images need to exist

Why should we care?

• Anyone could be a target, even if they've never taken intimate photos

• These scams can cause serious emotional distress and damage reputations

• Our children could be particularly vulnerable

How can we protect ourselves and our families?

1. Be aware that these fake images exist and are becoming more common

2. Understand that distinguishing marks or unique features won't appear in AI fakes

3. If targeted, don't panic - these images are often obviously fake upon closer inspection

4. Report any blackmail attempts to the police or local authorities

5. Be very mindful of the images of yourself or your loved ones that you share online, and with whom

I hope this guide was helpful! Here is the full TechCrunch article it is based off of.

Questions, comments, or additional advice to share? Let me know by replying to this email!

Hear ye, hear ye: ammi.ai is going to be out of office for a few weeks.

In the meantime, if you’re looking to get your fix of AI + Ammi-ing, here is a reading list for the summer! Realistically, I probably will only get around to reading 1 or 2 of these in the actual summer timeframe, but I’ll share the full list anyways in case you’re a more efficient reader than I 😀

Sure, here's the revised list with a lightbulb emoji:

1. The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI by Dr. Fei-Fei Li

💡 A captivating look at the potential and ethics of AI through the eyes of a leading AI researcher.

2. Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in A World of Machines by Dr. Joy Buolamwini

💡 Explore the biases in AI systems and their impact on society.

3. Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick

💡 Discusses the synergy between humans and AI in driving innovation and creativity.

4. Brave New Worlds: How AI Will ReVolutionize Education (And Why That’s a Good Thing) by Salman Khan

💡 Offers insights into the future of education with AI and digital learning platforms.

5. 2024 Motherly Report

💡 Comprehensive research on the state of motherhood and parenting trends in 2024.

6. HAI AI Index Report

💡 Annual report detailing the latest advancements and challenges in artificial intelligence.

7. Common Sense Media Generative AI & Young People Report

💡 Examines the impact of generative AI on children and young adults.

If you have read or do read any of these, I’d love to know what you think!

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Diamond (9%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Dud (91%)

She’ll probably be back. There’s no shortage of AI gossip in the ton 🙂

Thanks for spending a few of your precious, precious minutes with us. As I finish this letter, I am now over the Celtic Sea!

See y’all soon!
Ruqaiya
Ammi by day, Ammi by night