INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and experts are warning people to think twice before sharing personal information with artificial intelligence tools.
Thomas Clayton, president and chief operating officer at Aura, said many Americans are sharing more information with AI than they realize. Research from the company found that 71% of people have told an AI tool something they would be embarrassed to share with their closest friend or partner.
“People are connecting their email, files, and social media accounts to these AI tools without fully understanding the risks,” Clayton said.
The research also found that a majority of people are concerned they have shared information that could put their identity, finances or privacy at risk. Despite those concerns, 81% said they continue to share sensitive information with AI tools.
Clayton said criminals could use that information to create highly personalized scams.
“When bad actors get access to your AI conversations, they can craft scams tailored specifically to you,” he said. “That makes them much more effective and dangerous.”
As AI technology becomes more common, companies are also using artificial intelligence to help combat emerging cybersecurity threats. Aura uses AI-powered protection systems designed to detect and block threats in real time.
Clayton recommends that consumers make informed decisions about which AI tools they use and understand why those platforms need access to their information.
He also recommends never sharing passwords, financial information or Social Security numbers with AI tools and regularly reviewing privacy settings across AI platforms.
For more cybersecurity information and resources, visit Aura.
