CNBC

FBI warns of AI voice messages impersonating top U.S. officials

Guardian

AI scammer posing as Marco Rubio targets officials in growing threat

Metaculus

When will a sitting US President make a declaration about AI that meets the following criterion?

Elon Musk

Rishi Sunak

Kamala Harris

Bill Gates

Andrew Ng

Yoshua Bengio

Fei-Fei Li

Demis Hassabis

Melanie Mitchell

Sam Altman

Dario Amodei

Geoffrey Hinton

Yann LeCun

Gary Marcus

Max Tegmark

Connor Leahy

Eliezer Yudkowsky

Jaan Tallinn

Marc Andreessen

Eric Schmidt

Norbert Wiener

Arthur Clarke

Irving John Good

Claude Shannon

Hans Moravec

John Smart

There's a "wall of fear-mongering and doomerism" in the AI world right now.

"Worrying about AI today is like worrying about overpopulation on Mars."

Concerns that AI could pose a threat to humanity is "preposterously ridiculous."

Claiming AI poses an existential threat is "such an extreme" and risks "wip[ing] out some of its potential benefits."

"I'm more concerned about... the risks that are here and now [than the existential threat of AI]."

Current AI is "not anywhere close" to posing an existential threat but it could in the future.

AI is the "biggest existential threat" to humanity.

AGI's worst-case scenario would be "lights-out for all of us."

Powerful AI systems "taking control" pose an "existential threat."

AI has a "10 to 25 per cent" chance of destroying humanity.

"The most likely result of building a superhumanly smart AI... is that literally everyone on Earth will die."

Does AI Pose an Existential Threat to Humanity?

Stuart Russell

Shane Legg

Society is more likely to get "cat-level" or "dog-level" AI years before human-level AI.

"[W]e will eventually reach AGI... and quite possibly before the end of this century."

"Superhuman AIs" will be achieved "between a few years and a couple of decades."

"Digital intelligence" could overtake us within "5 to 20 years."

We may achieve "something like AGI or AGI-like in the next decade."

"[W]e could get to real AGI in the next decade."

"Human-level" AI could occur in "two or three years."

"I'd be surprised if we don't have AGI by [2029]."

Will AI Surpass Human Intelligence, and When?

An unknown actor used AI to impersonate U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, contacting at least five high-ranking officials, including three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress, through fake voice messages and texts on the Signal messaging app in mid-June.

Red State

BBC News

An unknown actor used AI to impersonate U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, contacting at least five high-ranking officials, including three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress, through fake voice messages and texts on the Signal messaging app in mid-June.

The impersonator created a fake Signal account with the display name "marco.rubio@state.gov" and used AI-powered software to mimic Rubio's voice and writing style, leaving voicemails for at least two targeted individuals and sending text messages inviting communication.</span

LiveNOW from FOX

The impersonator created a fake Signal account with the display name "marco.rubio@state.gov" and used AI-powered software to mimic Rubio's voice and writing style, leaving voicemails for at least two targeted individuals and sending text messages inviting communication.

U.S. authorities don't know who was behind the impersonation attempts, but believe the goal was to manipulate powerful government officials to gain access to information or accounts, according to a July 3 State Department cable sent to all diplomatic posts.

New York Post

U.S. authorities don't know who was behind the impersonation attempts, but believe the goal was to manipulate powerful government officials to gain access to information or accounts, according to a July 3 State Department cable sent to all diplomatic posts.

The State Department confirmed it is investigating the incident and taking steps to improve cybersecurity defenses, with one U.S. official, speaking anonymously, describing the hoaxes as unsuccessful and "not very sophisticated."

The Independent

The State Department confirmed it is investigating the incident and taking steps to improve cybersecurity defenses, with one U.S. official, speaking anonymously, describing the hoaxes as unsuccessful and "not very sophisticated."

This follows a pattern of AI-driven impersonations targeting senior U.S. officials, including a May breach where <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/fbi-probes-aipowered-impersonation-of-trumps-chief-of-staff">someone impersonated White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles</a> after accessing her phone system. Last year, a fake robocall pretending to be then-President Joe Biden urged voters to skip the New Hampshire primary election.

This follows a pattern of AI-driven impersonations targeting senior U.S. officials, including a May breach where someone impersonated White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles after accessing her phone system. Last year, a fake robocall pretending to be then-President Joe Biden urged voters to skip the New Hampshire primary election.

The FBI issued a warning in May about such impersonation attempts via AI-generated voice messages and texts, advising recipients not to assume messages claiming to be from senior officials are authentic without verification.

The FBI issued a warning in May about such impersonation attempts via AI-generated voice messages and texts, advising recipients not to assume messages claiming to be from senior officials are authentic without verification.

CNBC #0

Guardian #0

Metaculus #0

LiveNOW from FOX #

Guardian #

US authorities do not know who was behind the impersonation attempts, but believe the goal was to manipulate powerful government officials to gain access to information or accounts, according to a July 3 State Department cable sent to all diplomatic posts.</span

BBC News #

New York Post #

US authorities do not know who was behind the impersonation attempts, but believe the goal was to manipulate powerful government officials to gain access to information or accounts, according to a July 3 State Department cable sent to all diplomatic posts.

The State Department confirmed it is investigating the incident and taking steps to improve cybersecurity defenses, while a US official speaking anonymously described the hoaxes as unsuccessful and "not very sophisticated.".</span

The Independent #

The State Department confirmed it is investigating the incident and taking steps to improve cybersecurity defenses, while a US official speaking anonymously described the hoaxes as unsuccessful and "not very sophisticated.".

This incident follows a pattern of AI-driven impersonations targeting senior US officials, including a May breach where someone impersonated White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles after accessing her phone system and contacting politicians and business leaders.</span

Red State #

This incident follows a pattern of AI-driven impersonations targeting senior US officials, including a May breach where someone impersonated White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles after accessing her phone system and contacting politicians and business leaders.

The FBI issued a warning in May about malicious actors impersonating senior US officials through AI-generated voice messages and texts, advising recipients not to assume messages claiming to be from senior officials are authentic without verification.</span

The FBI issued a warning in May about malicious actors impersonating senior US officials through AI-generated voice messages and texts, advising recipients not to assume messages claiming to be from senior officials are authentic without verification.

While concerning, these impersonation attempts were reportedly unsophisticated and unsuccessful, showing that current security measures can still detect such threats. The State Department's swift response and investigation demonstrate that existing protocols are working to identify and address these incidents. Enhanced cybersecurity measures are already being implemented to prevent future occurrences.

While concerning, these impersonation attempts were reportedly unsophisticated and unsuccessful, showing that current security measures can still detect such threats. The State Department's swift response and investigation demonstrate that existing protocols are working to identify and address these incidents. Enhanced cybersecurity measures are already being implemented to prevent future occurrences.

Marco Rubio imposter using AI to call high-level officials

Artificial Intelligence

US Election Issue: Artificial Intelligence

AI Impersonator Targets Rubio, Contacts Foreign Ministers

Politics

Fraud and swindling

United States of America

This latest impersonation case exposes a dire national security threat. Generative AI's ability to spoof real-time calls amplifies social engineering, risking data breaches and fraud. Attackers exploit AI's speed, demanding defenders counter with AI-driven detection and robust human verification. Immediate action, like tabletop exercises and enhanced cybersecurity training, is vital to protect national interests.

This latest impersonation case exposes a dire national security threat. Generative AI's ability to spoof real-time calls amplifies social engineering, risking data breaches and fraud. Attackers exploit AI's speed, demanding defenders counter with AI-driven detection and robust human verification. Immediate action, like tabletop exercises and enhanced cybersecurity training, is vital to protect national interests.

VentureBeat

Former Fbi Cyber Experts On Combating Ai Threats And Training Tomorrows Defenders

While impersonating officials is troubling, the government's warnings about AI threats ring hollow when it deploys AI surveillance against citizens. Trump's immigration agenda, for example, relies on facial recognition, sentiment analysis, and predictive analytics, risking bias and profiling. Cronyism in contract awards further undermines trust. Citizens must demand transparency and use encryption to protect privacy.

While impersonating officials is troubling, the government's warnings about AI threats ring hollow when it deploys AI surveillance against citizens. Trump's immigration agenda, for example, relies on facial recognition, sentiment analysis, and predictive analytics, risking bias and profiling. Cronyism in contract awards further undermines trust. Citizens must demand transparency and use encryption to protect privacy.

Dianawolftorres

AI Surveillance in the Trump Era: Privacy Risks and Self-Protection

Firingline

Part III - AI Surveillance and U.S. Government Contracts  What Youre Not Being Told

There is a 50% chance that a sitting U.S. President will make a declaration regarding AI being akin to weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in some way by Jan. 22, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 50% chance that a sitting U.S. President will make a declaration regarding AI being akin to weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in some way by Jan. 22, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

AI Impersonator Targets Rubio, Contacts Foreign Ministers

AI Impersonator Targets Rubio, Contacts Foreign Ministers

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Li

Bengio

Musk

Altman

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Hassabis

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Musk

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AI Impersonator Targets Rubio, Contacts Foreign Ministers

AI Impersonator Targets Rubio, Contacts Foreign Ministers

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

Andreessen

Ng

LeCun

Mitchell

Li

Bengio

Musk

Altman

Hinton

Amodei

Yudkowsky

LeCun

Marcus

Bengio

Hinton

Hassabis

Altman

Amodei

Musk

Go Deeper

Articles on this story

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