The use of so-called well-known people in scams, I would argue, is now so common that a couple of things should be happening.

The first question: is there anyone left who is moderately well known that hasn’t been used in some sort of scam?

Given virtually everyone you have ever heard of has been used in a scam, surely the penny is dropping that, well, it’s a scam.

Yesterday it was Wendy Petrie. I didn’t bother to look at what it was she was allegedly pedalling, the same way we don't respond to all the people who still believe I am into cryptocurrency.

There was a scam over the holidays that had a photo of me injured. I don't know what it was they were selling or what they wanted you to do.

There was even a new gossip website out of Ghana that had me as a lead story.

Surely the bit where they say they are a new gossip website out of Ghana is about all the heads up you need to know you are being played.

I asked a media executive the other day, at what point does the media stop covering these endless scams, given at some point they must be so voluminous you can't possibly cover them all?

I asked that question the day the Ashley Bloomfield scam was in the news. Ashley was pedalling some blood pills.

I asked the media executive at what point do we start taking responsibility for our own actions? What moron believes Ashley Bloomfield is in the business of dodgy pills?

At which point, I was told the problem was that a major media outlet had in fact fallen for it and run it as a bona fide story.

So, maybe my faith in common sense has a way to go.

But I apply the same approach to AI. Nothing in terms of imaging and voice I have seen from AI yet has come close to being what you would suggest is so real as to sucker me in.

Somewhere in here there has to be room for common sense, for a bit of logic.

Have we collectively lost the ability to step back and ask a few basic questions, like, is this real? What are the odds of this being real? How legit does this look or sound?

Is Mike really the crypto king? Is Ashley likely to be the blood pill peddler of the Western world? Or maybe this is a form of Darwinism?

Maybe those who are that gullible deserve it?

The use of so-called well-known people in scams, I would argue, is now so common that a couple of things should be happening. 
The first question: is there anyone left who is moderately well known that hasn’t been used in some sort of scam? 
Given virtually everyone you have ever heard of has been used in a scam, surely the penny is dropping that, well, it’s a scam. 
Yesterday it was Wendy Petrie. I didn’t bother to look at what it was she was allegedly pedalling, the same way we don't respond to all the people who still believe I am into cryptocurrency. 
There was a scam over the holidays that had a photo of me injured. I don't know what it was they were selling or what they wanted you to do. 
There was even a new gossip website out of Ghana that had me as a lead story. 
Surely the bit where they say they are a new gossip website out of Ghana is about all the heads up you need to know you are being played. 
I asked a media executive the other day, at what point does the media stop covering these endless scams, given at some point they must be so voluminous you can't possibly cover them all? 
I asked that question the day the Ashley Bloomfield scam was in the news. Ashley was pedalling some blood pills. 
I asked the media executive at what point do we start taking responsibility for our own actions? What moron believes Ashley Bloomfield is in the business of dodgy pills? 
At which point, I was told the problem was that a major media outlet had in fact fallen for it and run it as a bona fide story. 
So, maybe my faith in common sense has a way to go. 
But I apply the same approach to AI. Nothing in terms of imaging and voice I have seen from AI yet has come close to being what you would suggest is so real as to sucker me in. 
Somewhere in here there has to be room for common sense, for a bit of logic. 
Have we collectively lost the ability to step back and ask a few basic questions, like, is this real? What are the odds of this being real? How legit does this look or sound? 
Is Mike really the crypto king? Is Ashley likely to be the blood pill peddler of the Western world? Or maybe this is a form of Darwinism? 
Maybe those who are that gullible deserve it?

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Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...