The Hidden Cost of Deepfakes: How AI Impersonation Disrupts Organizations

The AI revolution has arrived, and the primary target isn't your software; it’s your human instincts. In this episode of Absolutely Critical, host Lee Mangold sits down with 25-year cybersecurity veteran James McQuiggan to explore the high-stakes world of AI-driven social engineering.

They break down the "wake-up call" story of a global organization that lost $25 million to a deepfake video call and discuss how attackers clone a voice with just 10 seconds of audio. James also provides a framework for defense, from implementing family "code words" to leveraging AI in GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) without losing human oversight.

You’ll learn more about:

• The Human Vulnerability: Why attackers prioritize "soft targets" over zero-day exploits.
• The $25M Deepfake: Anatomy of a multi-layered impersonation attack.
• AI in Governance: Using generative AI to baseline policies and automate audit prep.
• Polite Paranoia: Practical strategies to verify identity in a synthetic world.

This podcast is for: CISOs, GRC professionals, and security leaders responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and human capital against evolving AI-driven threats.