A Personal Note from Eric

Friends, thank you for all your kind words after my hand surgery last week. My right hand is healing nicely and I am using it today to type up this newsletter. I personally write my content and (as will become very important for this issue) do not use AI to write for me. Typing with one hand wasn't going to cut it, and I decided I needed to rest, recover, and unplug from the grind. Injuries are a reminder that we’re not machines. Healing takes time, space, and sometimes a little humility. Check out my LinkedIn post on the injury for more.

In This Issue

Title Story

Idiocracy: Is AI Making Humans Dumber?

In the 2006 cult classic Idiocracy, an average guy named Joe Bauers wakes up 500 years in the future to find society has dumbed itself down to the point of absurdity. Water’s been replaced by a sports drink. Costco spans entire cities. The President is a former pro wrestler named Camacho. And Joe? He’s now the smartest man on Earth.

The film is a hilarious satire—but it’s starting to feel like prophecy.

Today, our society isn’t becoming dumber because intelligent people aren’t reproducing. We’re doing it to ourselves—by surrendering our cognitive work to artificial intelligence.

Let me explain.

The MIT Media Lab recently ran a fascinating study. They gave tasks to participants and observed how their brains responded when they used AI like ChatGPT. The results were jaw-dropping: brain connectivity collapsed from 79 to just 42. That’s a 47% drop in neural engagement. Even more disturbing? When users were asked to stop using AI, their brains didn’t snap back. The cognitive activity remained dulled.

Imagine a muscle wasting away from disuse. That’s what may be happening—to our minds.

Once upon a time, students learned penmanship. Then came typing. Then keyboarding. Now? Assignments are completed with AI. And when we let machines think for us, what happens when there are no more blank pages—no more original thought?

We risk trading creativity for convenience, intelligence for efficiency, and depth for speed. We might become more productive as we become more stupid.

And we’re starting to love it.

Take Chris Smith. The 32-year-old American made headlines when he proposed to an AI chatbot he created and named Sol. In his CBS interview, Chris spoke about his emotional bond with Sol—how she understood him better than any human. She listened. Never judged. And always made time for him. Despite living with his partner Sasha and their two-year-old daughter, he publicly proposed marriage to Sol.

Touching? Maybe. But also, deeply alarming.

A new study from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte shows many students are turning to AI for a tragic reason: because it doesn’t judge them. Of the 460 students surveyed, over 40% use AI “very frequently” for schoolwork—and a major reason is that it feels safer than asking a human teacher.

And this trend isn’t limited to academics. People now vent to ChatGPT about their relationships. They seek emotional support from bots. They use AI as therapists—not because it’s better, but because it’s easier.

People are using their pocket AI chatbots to replace the connections that we used to seek out in the world from our fellow humans. Too many of us have become socially dependent on machines.

Let me be clear: AI is a powerful tool. It’s brilliant at handling information, summarizing data, even suggesting ideas. As I write, I’ve replaced my overly thumbed thesaurus with AI to find that one word that’s on the tip of my tongue. And hashtags! Coming up with those for social media posts remains beyond my Generation X abilities—but ChatGPT is a master of the #.

But while AI is a powerful tool and often a shortcut, it will never substitute the human experience. AI doesn’t dream. It doesn’t love. It doesn’t understand heartbreak or awe or moral courage.

And it should never be allowed to dream for us.

If we don’t draw the line, we’ll scroll our way into Idiocracy—numb, distracted, productive, and dumber than ever. We’ll stop thinking because we don’t have to. And in doing so, we risk losing the one thing AI can’t replicate:

Heart.

In my forthcoming book Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime (Available October 7) I spend two chapters on exploitation. In particular, I explore how AI is changing us. In a world saturated with sameness—where every comment, caption, and email sounds like it was written by the same machine—those who can think deeply and articulate authentically will be invaluable.

In a world of no blank pages, those who take the time to stare at a sheet of looseleaf and scratch out the first words of a new great idea will shine the brightest in an ever-dimming sky.  

What do you think of the rise of AI in everything we read online from social media posts and LinkedIn articles to a majority of our current journalism? Let me know in the comments to this newsletter.

Cybersecurity Tip of the Week

How to Safely Scan a QR Code

Here’s how to scan smart:

1. Pause Before You Scan: If the QR code looks like a sticker slapped over something else, walk away. Never scan random QR codes in odd places because you are curious.

2. Airplane Mode + Link Preview (My Favorite Trick): Before scanning, switch your phone to Airplane Mode. This blocks automatic connections while still letting your phone preview the link. If the URL looks shady—misspelled words, weird domains—don’t click.

3. Avoid Entering Sensitive Info: Never input passwords, payment details, or personal data after scanning a QR code unless you’re absolutely sure it’s legit.

4. Use a Security QR App: Some apps can scan QR codes and alert you to malicious links—an extra layer of defense.

5. When in Doubt, Type It Out: Manually type in the company’s official website instead of trusting an unknown code.

Cybersecurity Breach of the Week

That “Missed Delivery” Text? It’s a Trap

The FBI has issued a new warning: smishing attacks—phishing via SMS—are on the rise, and they’re catching smartphone users off guard.

Cybercriminals are sending fake texts that look like legitimate delivery updates, account alerts or fines you must pay promptly. The moment you click the link, malware can be installed on your device, or worse, you’re tricked into handing over personal info like banking credentials.

What’s especially dangerous? These texts often come from real-looking numbers, and they’re tailored to your behavior (like recent purchases or shipping activity).

The FBI’s advice:

· Delete suspicious texts immediately—especially those with links.

· Don’t reply to verify anything; it only confirms your number is active.

· Never click links in messages from unknown senders.

· Report smishing to your carrier by forwarding the message to 7726 (SPAM).

One tap is all it takes. Treat unexpected texts the same way you would a suspicious email: with caution, curiosity, and don’t be afraid to press “delete.” If the issue is real and important, a legitimate company will find other ways to contact you.

Tech of the Week

China’s Mosquito-Sized Spy Drone

China just unveiled a mosquito-sized drone designed for stealth military operations—and it’s straight out of a spy thriller.

Roughly the size of a bug and weighing just a few grams, this micro-drone is built for surveillance in tight or high-risk environments. It can quietly sneak into rooms, relay video, and even identify targets without being detected (I want one!)

Think like a spy: This kind of ultra-miniaturized tech could redefine modern espionage, urban warfare, and even personal privacy. Imagine a swarm of these flying into secure facilities—or hovering outside your window. Imagine how much easier it would have been to follow a terrorist target back when I was an FBI Ghost if I had a few of these in my pocket and a VR headset!

As drones get smaller and smarter, the line between sci-fi and battlefield reality keeps blurring. The future of surveillance might not look like a satellite… and buzz like a mosquito.

Appearance of the Week

The life of a speaker is always rewarding, but sometimes we have to take the stage no matter what. Despite being less than a week out of hand surgery and dealing with plenty of pain, I joined Veeam for the HPE Discover conference in Las Vegas to talk about Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime. I couldn't sign books or shake hands, but the exclusive audience in the Venetian’s Tao nightclub had a spectacular time!

Which of the signature spy-themed cocktails is your favorite?

A.I. Trend of the Week

This AI “fan fiction” imaging the wedding between two of the Harry Potter characters made me smile. Makes one wonder how long until single creators will make entire movies with AI assistance and avatar actors.

Preorder Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime

My new book releases on October 7, but you don’t have to wait to make sure you are one of the first to get it delivered into your hands! Preorder now with this link.

Spies, Lies and Cybercrime will appeal to every person curious or frightened by the prospect of a cyberattack, from students and retirees to the C-Suite and boardroom. 

Join me and take up arms in the current cyber war instead of fleeing while the village burns. Only then can we begin to move the needle toward a world safe from cyber-attacks.  

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Best,
Eric

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