Recent data shows something every Australian should be paying attention to: only four in ten people can reliably tell the difference between a real video and an AI‑generated deepfake. Even more alarming, one in four Australians has already encountered an AI‑driven video scam in the past year.
This isn’t a fringe issue. It’s not a “future problem.” It’s here, it’s accelerating, and it’s targeting everyday people – parents, teachers, small business owners, and young people who are growing up in a world where seeing is no longer believing.
And this is exactly why I built Cybermate.
The real threat isn’t the technology – it’s the psychology
Deepfakes work because they exploit trust. They mimic familiar faces, voices, and authority figures. They trigger emotional responses before logic has time to catch up. And they’re becoming so realistic that even tech‑savvy Australians are being fooled.
This is a behavioural problem long before it becomes a technical one.
Cybermate was designed to address that gap – to build sustainable digital resilience by helping people understand the emotional triggers behind scams, not just the mechanics. Because if someone can be manipulated in the moment, no firewall in the world can save them.
What the data confirms
The findings reinforce what we see every day:• People are overwhelmed by the speed of AI‑driven scams
- Age isn’t a protective factor — younger Australians are only marginally better at spotting deepfakes
- Scammers are using AI to clone voices, impersonate loved ones, and create fake video calls that feel real
This is no longer about “being careful.” It’s about building sustainable habits, awareness, and confidence — the kind that lasts.
Why Cybermate exists
Cybermate is my commitment to social sustainability: strengthening communities by giving them the tools to stay safe in a world that’s changing faster than they can keep up.
We focus on:
- Behavioural‑first education
- Short, relatable lessons people actually remember
- Real‑world scam and deepfake simulations
- Practical guidance that builds confidence over time
Because sustainable safety isn’t created through fear. It’s created through understanding.
A safer digital future is possible
The deepfake problem will only grow. But so can our resilience.
If four in ten Australians can spot a deepfake today, imagine what that number could be with the right support, the right education, and the right behavioural insights behind it.
That’s the future Cybermate is working toward – one school, one family, one organisation at a time.
