The scary headlines about AI taking over the world are getting plenty of attention, but a top cybersecurity expert says they’re drowning out the dangers that already exist. Adam Ely, who leads AI security at Check Point, told reporters that artificial intelligence is nowhere near ending humanity. Instead, he compares today’s AI anxiety to the panic that greeted the first automobiles. Society didn’t ban cars, it added brakes, airbags and crash testing. Ely argues we can take the same approach with AI: build safety alongside the technology instead of stopping it.
The threat that actually concerns him is present-day crime. Sophisticated criminal groups and militaries are already using AI to breach companies, steal data and money, and probe critical infrastructure. For Suncoast residents, that could mean more convincing phishing emails, smarter bank scams, and risks to the systems that keep power and water running. It’s not a distant sci-fi scenario. It’s happening now.
Ely’s advice for everyday users is straightforward: learn how AI tools actually work and use them wisely. That could mean asking questions about where your data goes, being skeptical of too-good-to-be-true offers, and staying informed as the technology evolves. What’s your take: are the doomsday warnings helping us take AI seriously, or are they distracting us from the scams happening right now?
