Protect Your Business from Phishing Attacks with AI-Generated Voice Messages
As a small business owner, it’s essential to stay ahead of the latest threats. Unfortunately, phishing attacks using AI-cloned voice messages have surged 45% in just one quarter, putting your sensitive information at risk.
This alarming trend is highlighted in a new report from Proofpoint, which found that these attacks are highly convincing and often result in financial losses. To protect your business, you need to have strong internal controls in place, such as verifying the identity of anyone claiming to be your boss or other employees.
As Albert Steed explains on this week’s episode of Nerds News: “You could record him, you can AI him and you can have him say literally anything. We can make him read Shakespeare. We could have him sing Abba songs.”
New BYOAI Hardware Trend
Albert Steed is excited about a new trend in the world of artificial intelligence: compact local AI servers that small businesses can use to improve their operations. These devices are designed for manufacturers and equipment monitoring, allowing them to inspect products, schedule tasks, and more – all while keeping sensitive data within their own facilities.
One of the benefits of these devices is that they start at around $8,000, which is a relatively affordable price considering the capabilities they offer. As Albert notes: “I spent $1,500 on a used PC to do this with a five-year-old GPU, so the work that you’re going to see from me is going to come from a very old computer.”
However, these devices also require significant horsepower to keep up with the growing complexity of AI systems. Albert suggests that ACS will be researching this trend further and exploring ways for small businesses to take advantage of it.
FTC Finalizes AI Disclosure Rule
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized new guidance requiring businesses to disclose when they’re using AI tools to make or influence decisions about customers. This means that if you’re using AI in customer-facing interactions, you need to clearly inform the customer and provide them with options.
Albert Steed is skeptical of this rule, wondering how it will be enforced: “I think everybody knows when they’re talking to an AI, and I think we will always will. But I guess.” However, he acknowledges that transparency and accountability are essential in the use of AI, and suggests that small businesses review their current policies and procedures to ensure compliance.
Key Takeaways
- Phishing attacks using AI-cloned voice messages have surged 45% in just one quarter, highlighting the need for strong internal controls and verification protocols.
- Compact local AI servers are a new trend in the world of artificial intelligence, offering affordable and powerful solutions for small businesses to improve their operations.
- The FTC has finalized new guidance requiring businesses to disclose when they’re using AI tools to make or influence decisions about customers.
Don’t let downtime and risk hold your business back. Schedule a free IT consultation with ACS today to learn how we can help you stay ahead of the curve and protect your operations from emerging threats. Contact us now!