AI Literacy Is at the Core of Online Safety

Online safety is no longer just about avoiding bad links and using strong passwords. As generative artificial intelligence (AI) becomes part of everyday life, people must also learn to recognize persuasive AI-generated content, deepfakes, and other increasingly convincing forms of digital deception.

Traditional digital safety focused on multi-factor authentication, lock icons in URLs, and avoiding questionable attachments. Generative AI has expanded those risks by producing persuasive responses, cloned voices, synthetic reviews, and other content designed to appear trustworthy even when it is false. The greatest vulnerability is no longer clicking the wrong link but trusting the wrong answer.

Older adults may be especially vulnerable to those risks. According to Tony Krueck, SVP of Cox Mobile at Cox Communications, company research found that 42% of seniors who use generative AI rely on it primarily as a learning tool. “AI literacy is quickly becoming a core pillar of online safety,” he told TechNewsWorld.

Research Highlights Growing AI Safety Risks

AI use beyond the workplace is now commonplace. More than half of seniors (53%) say they use AI, and 42% rely on it to learn new things or solve practical problems.

Exposure to misinformation is a growing threat. Nearly one-third of seniors (32%) and members of the sandwich generation (ages 39–59) report experiencing online misinformation or disinformation over the last 12 months.

The risks extend beyond older adults. The sandwich generation carries much of the responsibility for managing online safety while caring for both teens and aging parents. A significant 86% say managing online safety for both their children and aging parents adds noticeable stress to their lives, and nearly a third find it overwhelming.

The report highlights two primary concerns: online shopping, which 73% of seniors reported as a top concern due to AI-manipulated reviews and fake storefronts, and voice-cloning/deepfake scams that mimic relatives.

Cox Mobile sees the most potential applications in areas where navigating digital tools can be challenging, such as researching health information, understanding financial concepts, or preparing questions before interacting with online services.

AI Brings Independence, New Risks

Krueck noted that as AI becomes more accessible, older adults embrace it as a resource that helps them navigate an increasingly digital world with greater confidence and independence. It also can make inaccurate information easier to accept as fact.

“The key is balancing AI’s convenience with healthy skepticism and verification through trusted sources,” he said.

Krueck suggested that AI can help alleviate some of that safety pressure when people use it as a support tool rather than another system to manage. Cox Mobile recently partnered with Sarah Dooley, founder of AI-Empowered Mom, who helps families use AI to reduce their mental load.

“One helpful tip she shares is using AI as a second set of eyes by uploading a screenshot of a suspicious email or text and asking AI to identify potential warning signs before acting,” he explained, adding that it can also help answer routine questions and provide guidance for caregivers on everyday technology issues.

“When families use AI thoughtfully and pair it with good verification habits, it has the potential to build confidence across generations,” Krueck said.

Danger Lurks Behind Conversational Search

Traditional search engines provide a list of sources we can vet. Generative AI presents a single, polished answer with complete confidence. That conversational style presents a considerable psychological challenge for older adults. They did not grow up in a world that required constant assessment of whether digital information is real or AI-generated.

“As a result, when an AI tool provides a clear answer in a conversational tone, it can feel less like a search result and more like advice from a knowledgeable person,” Krueck noted. “The challenge is that people often equate confidence with credibility.”

Generative AI is designed to sound helpful and certain, even when the information delivered may be incomplete or incorrect. Unlike traditional search engines that encourage users to compare sources, generative AI can create the impression of a single right answer.

“That makes it easier to accept information at face value and harder to recognize when verification is needed. The key is remembering that a confident answer isn’t always a correct one,” he warned.

Shopping Scams Harder to Spot

Nearly three-quarters of seniors (73%) who responded to the Cox Mobile survey identified online shopping as a major security concern. Krueck said generative AI is making scams harder to detect by producing realistic product reviews, convincing storefronts, and responsive customer-service chats that mimic legitimate brands.

“These tactics create a sense of legitimacy that can mislead even experienced online shoppers,” he said. “Spotting these risks requires a different mindset.”

Instead of relying on surface-level cues like grammar or design, Krueck advised consumers to be cautious when reviews sound overly generic or when sellers pressure them to act quickly or move conversations off-platform.

Telecoms Need New Safety Features and Public Awareness

Deepfakes and voice cloning exploit fear and urgency in ways traditional scams could not. Krueck said telecom providers must strengthen both network protections and consumer education to help families recognize AI-generated voice scams.

“AI-powered voice cloning has introduced a new level of urgency and emotional manipulation into scams, allowing bad actors to impersonate loved ones with striking realism. These attacks succeed because they can panic and pressure people to respond before they have time to verify,” he explained.

Technology alone is not enough, he added. Helping customers recognize emerging threats and develop strong verification habits remains essential to protecting them from AI-enabled fraud.

“Understanding when to question what they’re hearing, verify through trusted channels, and seek a second opinion is key. This combination of confidence and caution will be critical to staying safe in an AI-driven world,” he said.

Putting AI Safety Into Practice

Krueck said Cox Mobile views digital safety as a responsibility that extends beyond network connectivity. As AI becomes embedded in everyday experiences, helping customers understand how to use these tools and when to question their results has become an important part of delivering a safer digital environment.

To that end, the company introduced a simple framework for users: stop, verify, and ask for help when reviewing a highly specific, confident response from an AI chatbot. He explained that verification starts by stepping outside the original interaction.

“If an AI-generated response includes specific claims about a product, a financial decision, or a health concern, the next step is to confirm it through a trusted, independent source. That could mean checking an official website or contacting a known source directly,” he said.

Equally important, he noted, is avoiding reliance on any contact information or links in the original message. The goal is to separate the information from the confirmation process, ensuring that decisions are based on trusted channels rather than potentially manipulated information.