MCC LEAD session explores AI, online safety and digital risks
A familiar voice on the phone. A convincing email from a trusted source. A video of a friend promoting an offer that seems too good to be true. With artificial intelligence, AI, even these everyday interactions can be difficult to trust.
That was the warning Justin Pritchett shared with Meridian Community College students and employees during an Oct. 7 Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD) session focused on AI and online safety.
Pritchett, a cybersecurity and communications professional with nearly 10 years of service in the Mississippi Air National Guard, explained how AI is changing the way people work, learn and interact online. He also showed how the same technology can be used to create scams, spread false information and steal personal data.
One example involved a friend whose Facebook account had been compromised. Scammers used his photo and cloned his voice to create a video promoting a fraudulent offer.
"All they did was take a picture of him, they were able to clone his voice and post a video," Pritchett said.
The video was made more than two years ago, he noted, showing how convincing AI-generated content had already become.
Pritchett also explained how AI has made common email scams harder to spot. Messages that once contained spelling errors, poor grammar and awkward wording can now appear polished and professional.
He encouraged students to question unexpected messages, verify information through trusted sources and avoid acting quickly on requests involving money or personal information.
Social media was another focus of the session. Pritchett explained how photos, birthdays, locations and other details shared online can be collected and combined to build personal profiles. Even information that seems harmless on its own can create risks when paired with other details.
He urged attendees to think carefully before posting their locations, sharing sensitive information or entering personal details into AI tools. He also recommended using strong passwords and multifactor authentication to protect online accounts.
Despite those concerns, Pritchett stressed that AI can be a valuable tool, especially for students.
He encouraged students to use AI to explain difficult lessons, create study guides, develop practice questions and review their writing rather than relying on it to complete assignments.
"Use AI to assist your thinking, not replace it," Pritchett said.
To demonstrate that approach, Pritchett revealed that he had used AI to help create his presentation. He supplied the information and directed the tools to organize and develop the material, showing how AI can support a project without replacing the user's own knowledge and ideas.
He also cautioned that AI-generated answers can sound convincing while containing false information. Students should check facts, review sources and make sure they understand anything they use in their work.
The session was part of MCC's ongoing LEAD series, which brings community leaders and professionals to campus throughout the year to help students build leadership, educational and career skills.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu.