Defending Against AI Deception

This unit examines how generative AI and other digital technologies are misused to produce deception, scams, and misinformation, and teaches practical strategies for recognizing and resisting those threats. Students will study real-world examples, learn evidence-based fact‑checking and verification techniques, and build cognitive and procedural defenses that prepare them for advanced cybersecurity and media-literacy practice.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze case studies of AI-powered scams and digital deceptions to identify common tactics, exploitation vectors, and indicators of compromise
• Apply digital verification and fact‑checking techniques (e.g., metadata inspection, reverse image search, source triangulation) to evaluate the credibility of texts, images, and multimedia with documented evidence
• Evaluate emerging threats and ethical implications of generative AI by assessing risks and proposing prioritized mitigation strategies for individuals and small organizations
• Demonstrate the creation and communication of a personal or community media‑literacy and response plan that integrates cognitive defenses, reporting procedures, and ethical decision‑making