When it comes to online transactions, one-in-three Australians can’t tell what’s real and what’s AI-generated.
Research by digital inclusion leader Good Things Australia reveals almost half of all Australians say scams are becoming harder to spot, with nearly a third unable to tell if content is AI generated. One in four is worried what AI will mean for them or their loved ones.
Moreover, one-in-three Australians are worried about their loved one’s ability to identify scams, with over a third needing support from others when something goes wrong.
These worrying statistics highlight how treacherous the online world can be to navigate for many Australians.
And it’s not just individuals who are wide open to sophisticated AI-generated cyber attacks. Recently, Noosa Council made national news headlines in announcing it was the victim of a sophisticated and well-organised cyber fraud, with a total loss of $1.9 million in December 2024.
Funnily enough, turning to ChatGPT helps define exactly what an AI cyber scam is: “AI cyber scams are cybercrimes that leverage artificial intelligence such as machine learning, deepfake technology or natural language processing to automate, personalise and enhance fraudulent activities like phishing, identity theft, impersonation and social engineering.”
These types of attacks are particularly insidious because they’re highly convincing and personalised, making them incredibly effective at exploiting human trust and emotions.
And as the attack on Noosa Council highlighted, AI cyber scams are hard to detect with traditional security tools.
“The criminals used sophisticated social engineering AI techniques, but we won’t disclose specific details of how the fraud occurred to protect staff and from also highlighting the criminals’ actions,” Council CEO Larry Sengstock says.
“Police say that these types of incidents are on the rise and should act as a warning for organisations to continually review their procedures.”
Mr Sengstock emphasised that it was not a cyber security attack and no council staff were at fault or involved in the “sophisticated, strategic and targeted” fraud.
“Council systems were not breached or affected, no data was stolen and there was no impact to the public or our services,” he says.
New research published by Good Things Australia reveals almost half (48 per cent) say scams are harder to spot, while nearly a third (29 per cent) admit they can’t always tell the difference between AI-generated and real content.
Among grandparents, this jumps to 43 per cent.
The research also highlights that digital challenges affect every generation. A third (34 per cent) of parents are worried about how their children are using technology safely.
Almost one-in-five (19 per cent) young adults aged 25-34 find paying bills or banking online difficult.
And more than a third (37 per cent) of respondents claim they need support from friends or family members to navigate and resolve online issues.
Despite the concern and worry regarding AI, enthusiasm also exists, with nearly a third (32 per cent) of Australians excited to learn about AI when support is available, illustrating that gaining skills and confidence to try new things online is essential.
Get Online Week (October 20-26) is a Good Things Australia initiative, which will feature hundreds of free events nationwide, hosted by community organisations.
From learning to access government services to staying safe online and exploring AI, the events are designed to be welcoming, practical and fun.
Good Things Australia CEO Jess Wilson says the widespread adoption of generative AI technologies are accelerating the pace of change in the digital world exponentially and this can feel overwhelming.
“Learning new digital skills doesn’t have to be daunting. Our research shows Australians are eager to give things a go – especially when it’s safe, fun and shared with others,” she says. “Get Online Week is a chance to connect with your community, learn something new and leave feeling more confident.”
Visit goodthingsaustralia.org/get-online-week or call 1300 795 897 to find your nearest event.
