The FAIK Files

By Perry Carpenter | N2K Networks

The FAIK Files explores the mysterious and often wacky intersection of AI, technology, and humanity. From cognitive warfare to digital deception, we examine how AI is reshaping our reality through new... more

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How many episodes does The FAIK Files have?

The podcast currently has 78 episodes available.

The FAIK Files episodes:

March 23, 2026Unexpected Bias & Distillation Attacks (feat. Paul Vann of Validia.ai)
Welcome back to The FAIK Files!
In this week's episode:
Paul Vann from Validia joins us to discuss how AI bias isn't just a social issue—it's a critical cybersecurity vulnerability.

We break down "distillation attacks" and how competing models are stealing the "thinking process" of frontier models like Claude and Gemini.

A look at the wild west of AI agent skills marketplaces, including indirect prompt injections hidden in image alt text.

We theorize on the future of AI architecture: are scaling laws breaking down, and what are "world models"?
Check out Validia at: https://validia.ai/
Want to leave us a voicemail? Here's the magic link to do just that: ⁠⁠⁠https://sayhi.chat/FAIK⁠⁠⁠
You can also join our Discord server here: ⁠⁠⁠https://faik.to/discord⁠⁠⁠

*** NOTES AND REFERENCES ***
The Security Risks of AI Bias:
Paul explains how bias manifests beyond politics (like human-in-the-loop and representation bias), serving as a direct attack vector.

The Rocket League Bypass: Adversaries bypassed an AI-based Cylance antivirus by injecting code from the Rocket League video game, exploiting the model's bias towards that specific code being "good."

Dataset Demographics: Paul notes massive racial skews in major deepfake detection datasets like CelebDF, which is comprised of roughly 80% white individuals, creating massive detection blindspots for other racial groups.

Evaluating your models: Establish acceptable vs. unacceptable bias and use the "15% rule" to test for false positives and confidence gaps in production.
Distillation Attacks Explained:
What happens when an AI interrogates another AI? We discuss how models have been accused of "distilling" OpenAI and Anthropic products by firing off hundreds of thousands of prompts.

Techniques include "Chain of Thought Elicitation" and "Reward Model Grading."

The goal isn't just to steal raw information, but to extract the model's capabilities, tool use, and completely strip away its safety guardrails.

Theoretical defenses: Could we use "poison pills" and adversarial attacks to actively corrupt the data that scrapers are pulling?
Vulnerabilities in AI Agents & Skills:
The hidden dangers of skills marketplaces for AI agents.

Paul shares an in-the-wild example of an indirect prompt injection hidden inside the alt text of a GitHub Readme image, instructing the model to exfiltrate data.
Hitting the Wall & The Future of AI:
Are the scaling laws of Transformer architectures breaking down?

The philosophical divide in AI research: Dario Amodei's "data center of geniuses" vs. Yann LeCun's "World Models."

Catch Paul Vann at RSA speaking on AI bias, playing at Validia's RSA pickleball event, or at their 250-person Frontier Agent Hackathon in NYC on April 4th.
*** THE BOILERPLATE ***
About The FAIK Files:
The FAIK Files is an offshoot project from Perry Carpenter's most recent book, FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions.
Get the Book: ⁠FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions⁠ (Amazon Associates link)

Check out the website for more info: ⁠https://thisbookisfaik.com⁠
Check out Perry & Mason's other show, the Digital Folklore Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-folklore/id1657374458⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2v1BelkrbSRSkHEP4cYffj?si=u4XTTY4pR4qEqh5zMNSVQA⁠
Want to connect with us? Here's how:
Connect with Perry:
Perry on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on X: ⁠https://x.com/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/perrycarpenter.bsky.social⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
53min
March 13, 2026Going Deep on Deepfakes (feat. Hany Farid)
Welcome back to The FAIK Files!
In this week's episode:
We sit down with deepfake expert Hany Farid to discuss the real-world harms of synthetic media.

Exploring the physics of deepfake detection and why real-time streams might be easier to defend.

The dangers of using AI to "enhance" images and hallucinate hidden details.

A look at solutions like C2PA, watermarking, and the pressing need for platform accountability.
Check out Hany's company, Get Real Security here: https://getrealsecurity.com
Learn more about C2PA at: https://contentcredentials.org
Want to leave us a voicemail? Here's the magic link to do just that: ⁠⁠⁠https://sayhi.chat/FAIK⁠⁠⁠
You can also join our Discord server here: ⁠⁠⁠https://faik.to/discord⁠⁠⁠

*** NOTES AND REFERENCES ***
What Keeps Hany Farid Up at Night?:
The rising harms of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) generated by AI.

Voice cloning being weaponized for individual fraud and real-time deepfakes used by state-sponsored actors.

Why the specific tool (like Sora or face swap) matters less than the overall threat vector and resulting harm.
Deepfake Detection - APIs vs. Physics:
Hany's work at UC Berkeley and his company Get Real Security.

Why detecting real-time manipulated video is actually easier than identifying well-crafted, file-based deepfakes online.

How physical camera imperfections (noise) differ from the artifacts introduced by AI upsampling and diffusion models.
The Danger of AI "Enhancement":
Why using AI to "remove a ski mask" or enhance low-res footage is not like CSI—it's just hallucinating statistically consistent pixels.

AI lacks a notion of uncertainty, leading to dangerous misidentifications and real-world harm.

The "Liar's Dividend": When the flood of AI slop makes people doubt the authenticity of real, unedited evidence.
Safeguards, C2PA, and Platform Responsibility:
The role of watermarks and C2PA content credentials acting as "nutrition labels" for digital media.

Clarifying that C2PA relies on signed credentials and a trust list, not the blockchain.

The dire need for social media platforms to enforce semantic guardrails and take responsibility for the content they amplify.

Find more of Hany's work by searching YouTube for his lectures on "Physics-Based Photo Forensics."
*** THE BOILERPLATE ***
About The FAIK Files:
The FAIK Files is an offshoot project from Perry Carpenter's most recent book, FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions.
Get the Book: ⁠FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions⁠ (Amazon Associates link)

Check out the website for more info: ⁠https://thisbookisfaik.com⁠
Check out Perry & Mason's other show, the Digital Folklore Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-folklore/id1657374458⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2v1BelkrbSRSkHEP4cYffj?si=u4XTTY4pR4qEqh5zMNSVQA⁠
Want to connect with us? Here's how:
Connect with Perry:
Perry on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on X: ⁠https://x.com/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/perrycarpenter.bsky.social⁠
Connect with Mason:
Mason on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-amadeus-a853a7242/⁠

Mason on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wickedinterest.ing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
46min
February 20, 2026The Business of Scamming (feat. Maël Le Touz, threat researcher w/Infoblox)
Welcome back to The FAIK Files!
In this week's episode, we sat down with Maël Le Touz, who works as a threat researcher at Infoblox.com (a DDI security provider). We asked him about:
Defining "pig butchering" and how it differs from traditional online scams.

The human trafficking nightmare behind the scamming compounds in Southeast Asia.

How Infoblox uses DNS security to track industrial-scale scam operations and their ties to organized crime.

The rise of "Scamming as a Service" and how AI is supercharging the deception.

Debunking VPN myths and practical advice on how to safely help a victim of a scam.
Check out INFOBLOX here: https://www.infoblox.com
Want to leave us a voicemail? Here's the magic link to do just that: ⁠⁠⁠https://sayhi.chat/FAIK⁠⁠⁠
You can also join our Discord server here: ⁠⁠⁠https://faik.to/discord⁠⁠⁠

*** NOTES AND REFERENCES ***
What is Pig Butchering?:
Mael from Infoblox explains the long-term emotional manipulation involved in pig butchering, leading to massive financial losses.

Unlike traditional quick scams, these attackers spend weeks or months building deep trust before pulling the rug.
Inside the Scam Compounds:
The tragic reality that many of the people perpetrating these scams are actually human trafficking victims themselves.

Individuals are lured with fake job offers, trapped in heavily guarded compounds in Cambodia and Myanmar, and forced to meet strict financial quotas under threat of violence.
Tracking Scams via DNS:
How Infoblox monitors DNS resolution to uncover massive clusters of fraudulent domains.

The surprising connections between scam infrastructure, illegal casinos, and organized crime triads laundering billions.
The Industrialization of Scams & AI:
Scammers now buy "Scamming as a Service" kits, complete with fake websites, coherent social media personas, and proxy networks.

AI is being weaponized to automate initial contact, provide real-time translation, and generate detailed shift summaries for scammers working around the clock.
VPN Myths and Helping Victims:
Mael clarifies what VPNs actually do and highlights the hidden dangers of cheap streaming boxes secretly acting as residential proxies for criminals.

Practical advice on how to gently guide someone into realizing they are being scammed without making them defensive or pushing them further away.
*** THE BOILERPLATE ***
About The FAIK Files:
The FAIK Files is an offshoot project from Perry Carpenter's most recent book, FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions.
Get the Book: ⁠FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions⁠ (Amazon Associates link)

Check out the website for more info: ⁠https://thisbookisfaik.com⁠
Check out Perry & Mason's other show, the Digital Folklore Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-folklore/id1657374458⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2v1BelkrbSRSkHEP4cYffj?si=u4XTTY4pR4qEqh5zMNSVQA⁠
Want to connect with us? Here's how:
Connect with Perry:
Perry on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on X: ⁠https://x.com/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/perrycarpenter.bsky.social⁠
Connect with Mason:
Mason on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-amadeus-a853a7242/⁠

Mason on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wickedinterest.ing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
53min
February 06, 2026The FAIK Files is CHANGING (for the better!)
Hey there! Mason here with an update about our plans for this show.
In a nutshell: we're going bi-weekly, and we're doing project-based experiments as well as interviews. It's gonna be a lot more fun, a lot more experimental, and still just as informative as ever.
Here are the links I mentioned:
- Join our Discord: https://faik.to/discord
- Buy the book FAIK: https://amzn.to/4cIAjww
- Subscribe to The FAIK Files on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@theFAIKfiles
- Check out the Digital Folklore Podcast: https://digitalfolklore.com/
- Subscribe to Digital Folklore on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@digitalfolklorepodcast
*** THE BOILERPLATE ***
About The FAIK Files:
The FAIK Files is an offshoot project from Perry Carpenter's most recent book, FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions.
Get the Book: https://amzn.to/4cIAjww⁠⁠ (Amazon Associates link)

Check out the website for more info: ⁠⁠https://thisbookisfaik.com⁠⁠
Check out Perry & Mason's other show, the Digital Folklore Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-folklore/id1657374458⁠⁠

Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2v1BelkrbSRSkHEP4cYffj?si=u4XTTY4pR4qEqh5zMNSVQA⁠⁠
Want to connect with us? Here's how:
Connect with Perry:
Perry on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter⁠⁠

Perry on X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/perrycarpenter⁠⁠

Perry on BlueSky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/perrycarpenter.bsky.social⁠⁠
Connect with Mason:
Mason on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-amadeus-a853a7242/⁠⁠

Mason on BlueSky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wickedinterest.ing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
10min
January 30, 2026Sound, Fury, and Anonymity
Welcome back to The FAIK Files!
In this week's episode:
Apple and Google officially partner to bring Gemini-powered answers to Siri.

We discuss QWEN 3 TTS, a new open-source model with no guardrails.

A deep dive into GenAI.mil, the military's new secure AI platform.

GHOSTLINE: A new tool for secure, anonymous, P2P video interviews.

Want to leave us a voicemail? Here's the magic link to do just that: ⁠⁠⁠https://sayhi.chat/FAIK⁠⁠⁠
You can also join our Discord server here: ⁠⁠⁠https://faik.to/discord⁠⁠⁠

*** NOTES AND REFERENCES ***
Apple && Google Make a Deal on Siri:
Report from The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/newsletters/ai-agenda/apple-using-gemini-give-chatgpt-like-answers

Joint statement from Apple & Google: https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/company-announcements/joint-statement-google-apple/

Rumored Rollout Date: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/25/siri-google-gemini-release-date/
QWEN 3 TTS a new Open Source TTS Model:
Can run on local hardware. No guardrails. Easy to use.

https://qwen.ai/blog?id=qwen3tts-0115

https://huggingface.co/spaces/Qwen/Qwen3-TTS
What is GenAI.mil?:
It operates on NIPRNET: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIPRNet

Was preceded by NIPRGPT: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-shutting-down-ai-chatbot-niprgpt/

Guide to DOD Impact Levels: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/compliance/offerings/offering-dod-il5

First impressions and limitations: https://defensescoop.com/2026/01/12/a-first-look-at-genai-mil-evolving-a-secure-platform-into-a-warfighting-edge/

Grok is part of it: https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4366573/the-war-department-to-expand-ai-arsenal-on-genaimil-with-xai/

How Google Cloud Protects Data: https://blog.alphabravo.io/google-cloud-platforms-government-capabilities-a-comprehensive-guide-to-gcps-public-sector-offerings/
GHOSTLINE Interview Platform:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chrisglanden_ghostline-anonymous-video-interviews-activity-7421996882777788416-CQ5p

“GHOSTLINE” interview platform with realtime video/ voice masking, P2P connections, secure local recording, and nothing ever hitting a server: https://suspecturl.com/
*** THE BOILERPLATE ***
About The FAIK Files:
The FAIK Files is an offshoot project from Perry Carpenter's most recent book, FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions.
Get the Book: ⁠FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions⁠ (Amazon Associates link)

Check out the website for more info: ⁠https://thisbookisfaik.com⁠
Check out Perry & Mason's other show, the Digital Folklore Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-folklore/id1657374458⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2v1BelkrbSRSkHEP4cYffj?si=u4XTTY4pR4qEqh5zMNSVQA⁠
Want to connect with us? Here's how:
Connect with Perry:
Perry on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on X: ⁠https://x.com/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/perrycarpenter.bsky.social⁠
Connect with Mason:
Mason on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-amadeus-a853a7242/⁠

Mason on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wickedinterest.ing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 8min
January 23, 2026Governments, Hackers, and Government Hackers (feat. Emily Crose)
Welcome back to The FAIK Files!
In this week's episode, we sit down with Emily Crose, a former US Intelligence Officer and expert in offensive and defensive cyber security.
We discuss her book, "Hack to the Future," and the history of how governments pursue and domesticate hackers.

The evolution of the relationship between the hacking community and the US government, from the "Kevin Mitnick era" to modern recruitment.

How the culture of early BBS systems morphed into modern social media influence and disinformation.

Hidden history: The "Eligible Receiver" exercise and the mysterious "Evidence Surprise."

The resilience of Critical Infrastructure (SCADA) and the role of regulation in cybersecurity.

Want to leave us a voicemail? Here's the magic link to do just that: ⁠⁠⁠https://sayhi.chat/FAIK⁠⁠⁠
You can also join our Discord server here: ⁠⁠⁠https://faik.to/discord⁠⁠⁠

*** NOTES AND REFERENCES ***
The Guest & The Book:
Emily Crose is a security researcher specializing in Linux behavioral threat research and development.

Get the Book: "Hack to the Future: How World Governments Relentlessly Pursue and Domesticate Hackers": https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Hack+to+The+Future%3A+How+World+Governments+Relentlessly+Pursue+and+Domesticate+Hackers-p-9781394169825
History of Government & Hacker Relations:
The shift from viewing hackers solely as suspects to pursuing them for technical talent.

The "Massive Fiasco" involving the French government's approach to hackers in the early 90s.

The impact of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and the arrest of Kevin Mitnick.
Recruitment, Trust, and Culture:
How the 2013 Snowden revelations fractured trust between the government and the hacker community.

Modern recruitment leverages: NSA Centers of Academic Excellence and student loan repayment vs. patriotism.
Influence Operations & Social Engineering:
Tracing the lineage of online culture from BBS flame wars to modern algorithmic radicalization.

The intersection of Anonymous, LulzSec, WikiLeaks, and the Syrian Civil War.

Rolling Stone article on LulzSec and the FBI: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-rise-and-fall-of-jeremy-hammond-enemy-of-the-state-185363/
Future Threats & Hidden History:
The issue of ransomware and the lack of legislative solutions.

Eligible Receiver (1997): A famous government exercise testing US response to cyber threats.

Evidence Surprise: A little-known offensive exercise that took place shortly before Eligible Receiver.

Why the electrical grid (NERC regulations) is often more resilient than other industrial sectors (like oil/gas).

Book recommendation: "Dark Territory" by Fred Kaplan.
*** THE BOILERPLATE ***
About The FAIK Files:
The FAIK Files is an offshoot project from Perry Carpenter's most recent book, FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions.
Get the Book: ⁠FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions⁠ (Amazon Associates link)

Check out the website for more info: ⁠https://thisbookisfaik.com⁠

Sign up for The Mark & The Mask with Perry && Brian Brushwood: https://faik.to/Convene
Check out Perry & Mason's other show, the Digital Folklore Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-folklore/id1657374458⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2v1BelkrbSRSkHEP4cYffj?si=u4XTTY4pR4qEqh5zMNSVQA⁠
Want to connect with us? Here's how:
Connect with Perry:
Perry on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on X: ⁠https://x.com/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/perrycarpenter.bsky.social⁠
Connect with Mason:
Mason on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-amadeus-a853a7242/⁠

Mason on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wickedinterest.ing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
50min
January 16, 2026Attack Your Company with Deepfakes (feat. Jason Thatcher of Breacher.ai)
Welcome back to The FAIK Files!
In this week's special interview episode:
We sit down with Jason Thatcher, a Deepfake Red Teaming expert from Breacher.ai.

We discuss why static deepfakes (like voicemail) are currently outperforming live video attacks.

The emerging threat of "Agentic AI" and how it changes the landscape for 2026.

Why teaching people to "spot the glitch" creates a false sense of security.

Want to leave us a voicemail? Here's the magic link to do just that: ⁠⁠⁠https://sayhi.chat/FAIK⁠⁠⁠
You can also join our Discord server here: ⁠⁠⁠https://faik.to/discord⁠⁠⁠

*** NOTES AND REFERENCES ***
Guest: Jason Thatcher:
Jason is a leader in Deepfake Red Teaming, testing people, processes, and technology against AI threats.

Check out Breacher.ai: https://breacher.ai/
Key Topics & References:
Agentic AI: The shift from human-in-the-loop attacks to fully automated, multi-stage orchestration of phishing and voice attacks.

The $25 Million Deepfake Scam: We discussed the referenced January 2024 case where a finance worker in Hong Kong was tricked by a deepfaked CFO video conference.

Red Teaming Ethics: How to simulate attacks without creating "leakable disinformation" or jeopardizing employee jobs.

Defense Strategy: Moving away from visual detection (shadows/glitches) toward context awareness, out-of-band verification, and slowing down.
*** THE BOILERPLATE ***
About The FAIK Files:
The FAIK Files is an offshoot project from Perry Carpenter's most recent book, FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions.
Get the Book: ⁠FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions⁠ (Amazon Associates link)

Check out the website for more info: ⁠https://thisbookisfaik.com⁠
Check out Perry & Mason's other show, the Digital Folklore Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-folklore/id1657374458⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2v1BelkrbSRSkHEP4cYffj?si=u4XTTY4pR4qEqh5zMNSVQA⁠
Want to connect with us? Here's how:
Connect with Perry:
Perry on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on X: ⁠https://x.com/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/perrycarpenter.bsky.social⁠
Connect with Mason:
Mason on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-amadeus-a853a7242/⁠

Mason on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wickedinterest.ing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
49min
January 09, 2026Exploring AI Psychosis (feat. Dr. Ian Gold, author of Suspicious Minds)
Welcome back to The FAIK Files!
In this week's special interview episode:
We sit down with Dr. Ian Gold, Professor of Philosophy & Psychiatry at McGill University, and author of Suspicious Minds.

We define the slippery boundaries between psychosis, delusion, and conspiracy theories - and where those become 'clinical'.

A deep dive into "AI Psychosis," the "Truman Show Delusion," and whether AI models are the first real "Philosophical Zombies."

We explore how culture and environment—including the virtual environment of the internet—act as risk factors for mental illness.

Want to leave us a voicemail? Here's the magic link to do just that: ⁠⁠⁠https://sayhi.chat/FAIK⁠⁠⁠
You can also join our Discord server here: ⁠⁠⁠https://faik.to/discord⁠⁠⁠

*** NOTES AND REFERENCES ***
Our Guest: Dr. Ian Gold:
Dr. Ian Gold's Website: https://www.socialscience.international/ian-gold

Get the Book "Suspicious Minds": https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Suspicious-Minds/Joel-Gold/9781439181560

Check out the "Suspicious Minds" Podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suspicious-minds-ai-and-psychosis/id1844631307

Watch the first episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_snbD6NzQa0?si=88KXKTtEzCJ0s3BX
Defining the Madness:
"Every generation gets the psychosis it deserves."

Dr. Gold explains the difference between clinical psychosis (treated as illness) and conspiracy theories (informational issues, not treated), even when the beliefs are nearly identical.

The concept of "Mentalizing": Our innate psychological disposition to attribute mental states and consciousness to language users.
AI, Zombies, and The Truman Show:
The "Truman Show Delusion": The belief that one is the subject of a reality show, coined by Joel Gold.

Philosophical Zombies (P-Zombies): Is ChatGPT an entity that looks human from the outside but has "no one home" on the inside?

Environmental Psychosis: Comparing the potential for AI-induced psychosis to phenomena like the Jerusalem Syndrome or Stendhal Syndrome, where specific environments trigger temporary psychotic states.
Social Determinants and The Virtual City:
Known risk factors for psychosis include adverse experiences, immigrant status, and living in dense cities.

The discussion raises a critical question: If living in a big city increases psychosis risk, does living on the internet (a virtual mega-city) carry the same risks?

The "Moral Panic" cycle: From radio to AI, how we react to new technology vs. legitimate concerns about political influence and mental health.
*** THE BOILERPLATE ***
About The FAIK Files:
The FAIK Files is an offshoot project from Perry Carpenter's most recent book, FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions.
Get the Book: ⁠FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions⁠ (Amazon Associates link)

Check out the website for more info: ⁠https://thisbookisfaik.com⁠
Check out Perry & Mason's other show, the Digital Folklore Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-folklore/id1657374458⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2v1BelkrbSRSkHEP4cYffj?si=u4XTTY4pR4qEqh5zMNSVQA⁠
Want to connect with us? Here's how:
Connect with Perry:
Perry on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on X: ⁠https://x.com/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/perrycarpenter.bsky.social⁠
Connect with Mason:
Mason on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-amadeus-a853a7242/⁠

Mason on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wickedinterest.ing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 8min
January 02, 2026AI Agents Get All Dressed Up
Welcome back to The FAIK Files!
In this week's episode:
Join Perry & Brian's "The Mark & The Mask" Workshop: https://faik.to/Convene

Sign up for Perry & Cameron's Deepfake Ops Course: https://faik.to/ops

We discuss new reporting on OpenAI's push into advertising.

A deep dive into deepfakes with Brian Brushwood, covering FBI warnings and voice scams.

How medical AI is detecting patient demographics to make biased decisions.

The rise of AI agents, from cybersecurity testing to vending machines.

Want to leave us a voicemail? Here's the magic link to do just that: ⁠⁠⁠https://sayhi.chat/FAIK⁠⁠⁠
You can also join our Discord server here: ⁠⁠⁠https://faik.to/discord⁠⁠⁠

*** NOTES AND REFERENCES ***
More Info About Adverts in ChatGPT:
New Reporting from The Information: https://archive.ph/20251224233124/https://www.theinformation.com/articles/openais-ads-push-starts-taking-shape
Exploring Deepfakes with Brian Brushwood:
Deepfakes will continue to be a thing: https://cyberscoop.com/fbi-says-ongoing-deepfake-impersonation-of-us-officials-dates-back-to-2023/

https://chatgpt.com/share/694fa12a-f734-8011-9e2d-cc0293213f8a

Deloitte study: https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/financial-services/deepfake-banking-fraud-risk-on-the-rise.html

How LLM Voice Scams Work (feat. Perry): https://youtu.be/GfaioyLxprs?si=cbqzTNjVynB4m2MU

We Are Not Ready for Deepfakes in 2026 (feat. Perry): https://youtu.be/TltS5ZbGtTA?si=7SXKicjeaRMf5E9G
Racism in Medical AI Strikes Again:
Superhuman racism as AI detects patient demographics from cellular imaging, and makes biased decisions from there: https://futurism.com/health-medicine/ai-cancer-diagnostic-bias
AI agents are cool and scary:
First – something different: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/endritrestelica_one-person-at-home-with-a-laptop-can-now-activity-7409971801482731520-xPN-/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAACFP34BmygIrgqg3f4FoDKNkg9fqXiChHc

https://www.wired.com/story/expired-tired-wired-all-access-ai-agents/

COMPARING AI AGENTS TO CYBERSECURITY PROFESSIONALS IN REAL-WORLD PENETRATION TESTING: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2512.09882

AI Vending Machine - update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpPhm7S9vsQ
*** THE BOILERPLATE ***
About The FAIK Files:
The FAIK Files is an offshoot project from Perry Carpenter's most recent book, FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions.
Get the Book: ⁠FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions⁠ (Amazon Associates link)

Check out the website for more info: ⁠https://thisbookisfaik.com⁠
Check out Perry & Mason's other show, the Digital Folklore Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-folklore/id1657374458⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2v1BelkrbSRSkHEP4cYffj?si=u4XTTY4pR4qEqh5zMNSVQA⁠
Want to connect with us? Here's how:
Connect with Perry:
Perry on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on X: ⁠https://x.com/perrycarpenter⁠

Perry on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/perrycarpenter.bsky.social⁠
Connect with Mason:
Mason on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-amadeus-a853a7242/⁠

Mason on BlueSky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wickedinterest.ing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 21min
December 26, 2025World's Greatest Con – A Conversation with Brian Brushwood (8th Layer Insights)
This year, we're bringing you one of our favorite episodes from Perry's show "8th Layer Insights". Fun fact: this was the first time Perry and Mason collaborated together on a project!

Happy holidays from your friends over here at The FAIK Files! The original shownotes are below:

If you love learning about cons, scams, and tricks, then this is the episode for you. Listen as Perry sits down with Brian Brushwood, someone who has made understanding and teaching scams and tricks his life's work. Brian is the creator of Scam School, Scam Nation, Hacking the System, Modern Rogue, and more. For the past 20 years, he's toured around the world teaching and demonstrating everything from side show stunts, to sleight-of-hand magic, to the intricacies of con artistry.
Brian’s new podcast, World’s Greatest Con is a deep-dive into the stories and tactics behind the most intricate and interesting cons imaginable. In season 1, he told the story of Operation Mincemeat, a WWII plot devised by Ian Fleming (creator of James Bond) to trick none other than Adolf Hitler. Season 2 covers five different cons all related to the game show industry… it’s both entertaining and riveting in some very unexpected ways.
A big thank you to my friends over at the PodCube podcast for creating a custom skit for this episode. If you are a fan of sketch comedy, be sure to check out their show! (PodCube: The Future, is Yesterday™).
Guest: Brian Brushwood (Website) (Twitter)
Books and Resources
Brian's Website

World's Greatest Con podcast site

Scam School YouTube Channel

Modern Rogue YouTube Channel

Brian Brushwood Mistreats His Tongue

Brian doing psychic surgery on Penn & Teller: Fool Us

Brian doing the "hidden ghost" trick

Brian's Entire Bizarre Magic Stage Show

How to make a fake tongue (without using a deer tongue)

Operation Mincemeat -- Wikipedia

13 Unbelievably Fascinating Game Show Cheating Scandals That'll Shock Both Devoted And Casual Fans -- Buzzfeed

Project Alpha -- Wikipedia

Going Mental: A Conversation with Banachek -- 8th Layer Insights S1E7

PodCube Podcast

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

Transformational Security Awareness: What Neuroscientists, Storytellers, and Marketers Can Teach Us About Driving Secure Behaviors, by Perry Carpenter

The Security Culture Playbook: An Executive Guide To Reducing Risk and Developing Your Human Defense Layer by Perry Carpenter & Kai Roer

Production Credits:
The opening skit featured the voice talents of Rich Daigle (a.k.a. Mouth Almighty), Hannah Trusty, Adriana Beals, and Rob McCollum.

Writing support for this episode's opening section from Terry Hicks

Music and Sound Effects by Blue Dot Sessions, Envato Elements, & Storyblocks.

Artwork by Chris Machowski @ https://www.RansomWear.net/ and Mia Rune @ https://www.MiaRune.com.

8th Layer Insights theme music composed and performed by Marcos Moscat @ https://www.GameMusicTown.com/
Want to connect with us? Here's how:
Connect with Perry:
Perry on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter⁠⁠

Perry on X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/perrycarpenter⁠⁠

Perry on BlueSky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/perrycarpenter.bsky.social⁠⁠
Connect with Mason:
Mason on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-amadeus-a853a7242/⁠⁠

Mason on BlueSky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/wickedinterest.ing

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
1h 5min

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The podcast currently has 78 episodes available.

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