A New Course Addresses a Growing Digital Threat
A significant new resource has been released to help a vulnerable demographic navigate the growing dangers of artificial intelligence. Margaret Sass, a lecturer at the School for the Digital Future, has developed a free online course and a companion book specifically designed to help seniors recognise and avoid scams that use artificial intelligence. The course, titled “AI Scam Protection for Seniors”, is being made available through the BroncoLearn platform with the support of Jackie Throngard.
This initiative is a timely and critical response to the new and evolving threats that are emerging in the digital landscape. As AI becomes more sophisticated, so do the scams that use it, making it more difficult for individuals to distinguish between what is real and what is a malicious fabrication.
The Collaboration Behind a Vital Initiative
The success of the “AI Scam Protection for Seniors” course is a result of a powerful collaboration. Margaret Sass, a lecturer with a passion for digital education, recognised a critical need in the community and developed a comprehensive curriculum to address it. Her expertise in the digital future provided the foundational knowledge for the course’s content, ensuring it is both relevant and practical. The course is hosted on BroncoLearn, an online platform that makes the material easily accessible to anyone with an internet connection, regardless of their location.
The support of Jackie Throngard was also instrumental in bringing the course to fruition, highlighting the importance of community support in tackling these new digital challenges. This collaboration demonstrates how educational institutions and community leaders can come together to provide vital resources that protect individuals from harm.
Understanding the Dangers of AI Scams
The course provides a detailed breakdown of the specific types of AI scams that are targeting seniors. One of the most alarming is voice cloning, where a scammer uses AI to replicate a person’s voice to impersonate a family member or friend. The scammer might call a senior in a panic, claiming to be in an emergency and needing money, a tactic that preys on a person’s emotions and a desire to help their loved ones.
Another danger is deepfakes, where AI is used to create realistic but fake videos of individuals. These can be used in more elaborate scams to create a false sense of trust or to spread misinformation. The course also covers advanced text scams, which use generative AI to craft highly convincing phishing messages that are free of grammatical errors and are tailored to a specific individual’s interests, making them much more difficult to spot.
Practical Skills for Staying Safe Online
The course is not just about identifying the threats; it is also about empowering individuals with practical skills to stay safe online. Learners will discover how to spot the red flags of a scam, such as an unexpected request for money or a “too good to be true” offer. The course teaches viewers to always verify information through a trusted, independent source, rather than relying on the information provided in the scam itself.
It also offers advice on how to recognise the tell-tale signs of a deepfake or voice clone, such as unnatural pauses, robotic tones, or strange lighting. By providing clear and actionable steps, the course helps seniors to build a strong defence against these new scams and to navigate the digital world with greater confidence and security. The companion book serves as a valuable reference, providing a tangible resource that can be consulted long after the course is completed.
A Course for All Levels of Digital Literacy
A key aspect of the course’s design is its inclusivity. It is specifically created for a wide range of users, from tech-savvy seniors who are comfortable with technology to those who are just learning to use a smartphone. The curriculum avoids confusing jargon and uses clear, straightforward language to explain complex topics. The course’s use of easy-to-follow steps and practical examples is designed to boost a person’s confidence online, rather than instil fear.
The goal is to empower seniors with knowledge, allowing them to feel more secure and in control of their digital lives. This focus on accessibility ensures that the course can have a broad impact, reaching and helping a diverse audience of individuals who are at risk of being targeted by these new and sophisticated scams.
A Proactive Approach to Digital Security
In an age of rapidly evolving technology, a proactive approach to digital security is more important than ever. Instead of waiting for a scam to happen and then reacting, the “AI Scam Protection for Seniors” course empowers individuals to prevent scams from occurring in the first place. This is a crucial strategy, as it is often much more difficult to recover from a scam after the fact. The course is essentially a form of digital self-defence, providing individuals with the knowledge and the tools they need to protect themselves and their finances.
By focusing on prevention, the course is helping to build a more resilient and secure digital community. It is a model for how education can be used as a powerful tool to fight back against the ever-growing threat of digital crime and to ensure that people can enjoy the benefits of technology without fear or confusion.
A Blueprint for Community-Based AI Education
The success of the “AI Scam Protection for Seniors” course is a powerful case study for how educational institutions and community leaders can work together to address the challenges of the digital age. The course serves as a blueprint for other communities to follow, demonstrating that targeted, accessible, and free education can be a powerful tool in the fight against digital crime.
As AI continues to become more integrated into our daily lives, the need for this type of education will only grow. By providing a clear and comprehensive resource, Margaret Sass and her collaborators have not only helped a specific community but have also provided a model for how we can all work together to build a safer and more secure digital future for everyone.
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