How to Protect Yourself from AI Risks

6 days ago

2 min read

Individuals can protect themselves from AI-related risks by developing a combination of digital literacy, security habits, and healthy skepticism.

1. Verify Before You Trust

AI can generate information that sounds convincing but is wrong.

What to do:

Verify important information with trusted sources.
Check multiple reputable news outlets before sharing stories.
Be cautious of images, videos, and voice recordings that provoke strong emotions.

Rule of thumb: If content makes you immediately angry, fearful, or excited, pause and verify before acting.

2. Strengthen Cybersecurity

AI is making scams and phishing attacks more sophisticated.

Protect yourself by:

Using strong, unique passwords.
Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Avoiding links and attachments from unexpected emails or texts.
Confirming financial requests through a second communication channel.

For example, if a family member or coworker appears to call requesting money, hang up and contact them directly using a known phone number.

3. Protect Your Privacy

Many AI systems learn from data that users voluntarily provide.

Best practices:

Limit personal information shared online.
Review privacy settings on social media.
Avoid entering sensitive information into public AI tools unless you understand how the data is stored and used.
Regularly review app permissions on your phone and computer.

4. Learn Basic AI Literacy

Understanding what AI can and cannot do reduces the likelihood of being misled.

Know that AI:

Does not truly "understand" information like humans do.
Can confidently provide incorrect answers.
Can generate realistic but fake content.
Works best as an assistant, not as an unquestioned authority.

5. Keep Human Judgment in Important Decisions

Do not rely solely on AI for:

Medical decisions
Legal matters
Financial investments
Employment decisions

Use AI as a tool to gather information, then consult qualified professionals when the stakes are high.

6. Invest in Adaptable Skills

As workplaces evolve, the safest workers will be those who combine human abilities with technology.

Valuable skills include:

Critical thinking
Leadership
Communication
Emotional intelligence
Creativity
Problem solving
Data literacy

AI tends to complement these skills rather than replace them.

7. Teach Family Members

Older adults and young people can be particularly vulnerable to AI-enabled scams.

Discuss:

Deepfake videos
Voice-cloning scams
Phishing emails
Fake online advertisements

A simple family verification password for emergencies can prevent many scams.

A Practical Checklist

✅ Use MFA on important accounts✅ Verify unusual requests for money or information✅ Fact-check AI-generated content✅ Limit personal data sharing✅ Keep software updated✅ Learn basic AI capabilities and limitations✅ Use AI as an assistant, not a final decision-maker

Ultimately, the best defense against AI risks is the same quality that makes humans valuable in the first place: critical thinking. Technology will continue to improve, but people who verify information, protect their privacy, and exercise sound judgment will remain far less vulnerable to misuse of AI.