Wednesday, February 11, 2026

EAPIC (English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course) Open Info Meet Tonight!

 The live EAPIC Google Meets session is from 8 to 9 EST tonight. It is a follow up to last week's video of the course introduction. ( View that here!) The lesson One training video will be uploaded tomorrow. 

Each week on Wednesday there is a live feedback session for students who are enrolled in the course. Tonight's session is free, pretty much just a Q&A and scheduling of individual interviews. Those 15 minute interviews are just to see if the course is for you. Ideally you should have an IELTS 5+ or equivalent and have the time, 30-minutes a day, for the homework. 

See you tonight. 



AI Deep Fakes: Is that really you, Mom? (and how to counter them!)

Clker,com




It’s getting harder and harder to tell what’s real online. One minute, you’re scrolling through social media; the next, you see a video of someone who looks "exactly" like your favorite celebrity — or worse, like you. Welcome to the world of AI deepfakes — realistic videos or audio created using artificial intelligence to make people say or do things they never actually did.  

These deepfakes can look frighteningly real, and scammers are starting to use them in clever (and dangerous) ways — from impersonating company leaders to trick employees into wiring money, to faking a family member’s voice to ask for “urgent” help. As realistic as these fakes have become, there are ways to defend yourself. 

What Deepfakes are and why they’re a problem  

Think of a deepfake as a high-tech disguise. AI tools can copy a person’s image, gestures, and voice from online photos or video clips. Then they can generate new videos that seem completely authentic — even to the trained eye.  

Unfortunately, cybercriminals are using these tools to manipulate people:  

  • Pretending to be your boss to request sensitive information  
  • Posing as relatives asking for emergency money  
  • Creating fake videos that damage reputations or spread misinformation  

That’s why keeping your identity safe online needs more than just strong passwords — it requires protection that watches over your digital presence too. There are a number of system available today designed to do that. (Disclaimer: I'm with Identityshield, one of the very best and longd, used here as an example. Check out some of our more expensive and less comprehensive competitors but I'm confident you'll be back: Aura, Life Lock, Identity Guard, Identity Force, Identity IQ, etc.) 

How Identity Shield Has Your Back   (How Identity Shield Helps Protect You from AI Deepfakes)  

Identity Shield uses cutting-edge technology to help you spot, stop, and remove deepfake attacks before they can cause harm.  Here’s how:  

  • Monitors your digital identity: Constantly scans online platforms for fake accounts, videos, or images that mimic your likeness or voice.  
  • Alerts you to potential impersonations: If it detects something suspicious, you get a warning right away.  
  • Helps with quick action: You’ll get guidance to report and take down harmful fakes fast.  
  • Adds extra security layers: Whether you’re verifying a video call or confirming a message, Identity Shield makes sure it’s really "you".  

Stay one step ahead of the fakes  

  • AI deepfakes aren’t just a tech trend — they’re a growing challenge for everyone. Whether you’re protecting your business, your reputation, or your loved ones, having the right tools matters.  
  • Identity Shield gives you peace of mind in an age where seeing isn’t always believing. It keeps your true self — your image, your voice, your identity — safe from impersonators.  
  • Don’t wait until a fake version of you shows up online. Subscribe to Identity Shield today and take control of your digital identity before anyone else does.  

Note: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant—and edited by a very human 82‑year‑old who does not want to be the next victim. (wracton@gmail.com)



Sunday, February 8, 2026

An AI Scam Wiped Out Her Retirement at 82. How Safe Are You?

At 82 myself, this story hit me hard. An 82‑year‑old grandmother lost nearly $200,000—not to a cartoonish prince in Nigeria, but to a popular “doctor” she thought she’d been seeing live on social media. Scammers used AI to create an utterly convincing deepfake video of the soft-spoken physician, complete with compassionate face and voice. It persuaded her to move her investments into “safer,” more profitable accounts . . . 

The “doctor” never existed. AI stitched together a compassionate face, a soothing voice, and a believable story—just for her

AI has radically changed the game. It can now clone trusted voices and faces, fabricate experts and news clips, and generate flawless bank style emails and social media posts tailored to your age, profession, interests, and financial profile. For those of us in education—often on part time or year to year contracts, already navigating fluctuating incomes—one well crafted AI powered scam can spell disaster. 

A second example: The message that cost Lena her retirement savings didn’t sound foreign, clumsy, or obviously fake. It looked exactly like the security alerts she had been getting from her bank for years—down to the logo, the subject line, and the urgent but polite tone.

Lena is 52, a senior project manager who spends her days reading contracts and risk reports. She is not naïve, and she is technologically savvy. Yet over three weeks, guided by a smooth, AI‑polished voice that claimed to be “from the bank’s fraud department,” she moved almost her entire retirement savings into what turned out to be ghost accounts.

How AI changes the scam game

AI makes messages and websites look and sound professional, eliminating many of the red flags (bad spelling, odd phrasing) we were trained to notice in older scams.
AI voice tools and deepfakes allow scammers to mimic the tone and cadence of bank staff, government agents, or even relatives, making phone-based social engineering far more convincing.
AI driven scripts help scammers respond quickly and confidently to hesitation, giving victims the sense they’re talking to a well trained professional following a real protocol.

The real question isn’t, “Can I afford protection?”  It is: “Can I afford a major financial hit with little or no backup?”

Three basic rules I now live by:
  • I never act on a financial request from a message alone; I always verify through an official channel.
  • I slow down anything labeled “urgent.”
  • I keep a professional safety net in place for identity monitoring and legal/financial guidance.
How many of those three are you actually doing right now—honestly?

Try this: 
– “I think I’d spot this kind of scam because…”
– or “I’m not sure I would, and here’s why…”

If you’d like a simple one‑page checklist on scams—AI and otherwise—that target educators and retirees (plus a few options for protection), email me at wracton@gmail.com. One of the options I mention is the company I’m with, LegalShield!

Note: The 82‑year‑old “deepfake doctor” story was reported by SWNS and then by several other outlets. Whatever the tabloid gloss, it matches what law enforcement and aging‑advocacy groups are now warning about AI‑driven scams.

This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant—and edited by a very human 82‑year‑old who does not want to be the next victim.




Friday, February 6, 2026

The Hell-O Here After AI Jimmy Buffett Talking Blues

Here After AI allows you to talk with those you love  . . . from the "After life," so to speak! Just imagine if Jimmy Buffett had signed up before he signed out recently! Another in my continuing series of talkin' blues on why I love AI. . .so much . . 

Link to the song on Vimeo


Woke up from a power nap  . . .  much to my surprise

There was Jimmy Buffett right before my eyes

Laughin’ and greetin’ me on my laptop screen

First I figured it was just a dream

But no, down there in the corner

Was a congrats from Hereafter AI

For signin’ up for the Eternal Here after AI Life plan . . . 


So, how are you doin’ I said to him

He said, perfect, I could call him, Jim

He looked great for a guy so old as me

He said he chose 33

Best years of his life

Wine, women, song

The good after life . . . 


We talked for hours and hours that call

Time didn’t seem to pass by at all

Every dream he’d had comin’ true

Said I could do the same thing, too

With Here After AI

No pain, no gain, just all good

Whatever you can imagine


So, We watched together like his biggest fans

Accompanied by the Coral Reefer band 

Didn’t last too long, though, nothin’ new to say

Just his stories and songs, day after day

Eternal Here After AI

Mind without body, spirit without soul

From Jimmy Buffett’s HELL -O!


So, if there’s a message in this song

You got me, I’m just singin’ along

Or where the lyrics are from as well

Maybe Margaritaville  . . . 

Eternal AI, hereafter

Nothing but pickin’ and a-grinnin’

Hell-O from the other side   . . .  Jimmy Buffett and me . . . 

Clker.com





For an at least partial antidote to the AI invasion and takeover, for legal backup and identity protection, goto: williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com or email me directly: wracton@gmail,com. 


Thursday, February 5, 2026

English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course (EAPIC) Introduction

Here is the link to the video (Youtube)

(Note: The video quality of the text on the screen is a little fuzzy, but it is the same as what is below! Also, my voice with the cold is a little fuzzy, too! ) 

Better accent or pronunciation

Better expressiveness in speaking

More confidence in speaking

Good method for continuing to improve - Study at home, by yourself!

Works for anybody with a CLB or IELTS 5 and up

10 weeks, online (plus Introduction)

(Free) 20~30-minute training video uploaded to YouTube every Thursday

15~30 minutes of homework every day!

(Optional) live homework follow up meeting on Zoom Wednesday at 8-9 p.m. EST. 15-minute Zoom interview required to enroll ($250 USD additional fee)

Weekly syllabus:
1. Basic rhythm 1 (pronunciation grammar) 
2. Fluency 1 (body rhythm)
3. Consonants 1 (common problems, such as 'th' and 'r/l')
4. Vowels 1 (short)
5. Vowels 2 (long)
6. Consonants 2 (students’ “favorite” problems)
7. Melody 1 (little pieces, phrases)
8. Melody 2 (longer pieces, sentences)
9. Fluency 2 (Public speaking and classroom stye)
10. Rhythm 2 (Conversation style)

Typical weekly schedule: 

   Thursday: Do the video along with me (20+ minutes) and keep notes!

   Friday: Do the warm up, training, embodied oral reading (EOR) and keep notes!

   Saturday: Do the warm up, training, EOR and keep notes!
              Notes: Other words or phrases you have difficulty pronouncing well

   Sunday: Take the day off with me!

   Monday: Do the warm up, EOR, practice your target words (with MT5s) and keep notes!

   Tuesday: Do the warm up, EOR,  a new one-page story you have found with MT5s, 
                   practice your target words and keep notes!

   Wednesday: Come to the live feedback 60-minute class on Zoom (or practice by yourself!) 

       Here is what goes on in the feedback session: 
                       a. Go over the EOR
                       b. Check students' individual MT5s for accuracy
                       c. Questions from and help with target words of students
                       d. Preview of the next week's lesson

So . . . How does this course work? 

Gesture and touch make pronunciation easier to learn and remember

Using your whole body (embodied) makes is easier to pay full attention

Rhythm and gesture together help keep learning both relaxed and energetic

Embodied oral reading is great for bringing what you study into conversation

Practicing the EOR every day trains your mind and body to move and speak more like English speakers do. 

Use what you know . . . 

Email me: wracton@gmail.com for more information or to enroll (via Paypal or Venmo). To enroll requires brief Zoom chat (just to make sure the course is for you!) 

For a more in depth discussion of the basis of the EAPIC course, go to: https://www.actonhaptic.com/eapic

The Summer 2026 EAPIC course is being revised to include identity protection. Students will also be using IDentityshield system. For a preview of IDentityshield go to: IDentityshield introduction, or  www.williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com 

Homework for next week 

A. Tell me a little about yourself and why you think this course would be helpful for you.

B. Give me some idea of your weekly schedule, how much time you have to practice!

C. Tell me about your experience with music, playing an instrument, etc., or just enjoying it!

D. Tell me if you'd like to join the Wednesday Zoom feedback class. (If so, I'll set up a Zoom interview just with you as soon as possible. If I do, what would be a good time for you?)

Keep in touch!

Bill









Monday, February 2, 2026

Happy (updated) Setsubun! "AI wa soto; fugu wa uchi!"

Today in Japan is the festival of Setsubun which celebrates the coming of spring. Having been in Japan for about ten Setsubun festivals, it just sort of grows on you, especially the little jingle that you repeat as you toss a few beans blessed by the priests at the Shrine into each room of the house and out every door and window:

            "Oni wa soto; fuku wa uchi!" (Roughly translated: Devil out; good fortune in!) 

Clker.com

Here is what I would propose as an updated version for today: 

              "AI wa soto; fugu wa uchi!" (AI OUT! Blowfish IN!)

Clker.com

Wonderful parallel, don't you think! As we get closer and closer to the tempting, delicious danger near the "ovaries" of AI, remember the blowfish . . . and not blow it! 

See previous blog post on at least one way of doing that!

Bill



Sunday, February 1, 2026

Embodied English Pronunciation and Identity Protection Course

Embodied English Pronunciation and Identity Protection Course (for nonnative speakers and their instructors) is a 12-week, practice-driven course that helps multilingual professionals and their instructors build clearer, more confident spoken English while learning to recognize and resist today’s AI enabled fraud and deepfake threats. It is designed for programs or individuals that want to strengthen students’ communicative impact and safeguard their digital and professional identities at the same time. [pronsig.iatefl+6] 

What this course does

Integrates haptic (movement  and touch based) pronunciation training so learners physically “map” stress, rhythm, and intonation, making clearer, more intelligible speech that transfers into real world communication. [jalt-publications+3]

Uses that same heightened awareness of voice, language patterns, and gesture to train students and instructors to detect persuasive language, suspicious vocal cues, and cultural “red flags” in scam calls and social engineering attempts. [hipoeces.blogspot+2]

Provides hands on practice with a comprehensive, web based identity protection platform (IDentityShield by LegalShield), so participants can see how technical safeguards and human judgment work together. [youtube]

Why this matters for educators

Deepfake audio and video are now realistic enough that even experienced professionals are being deceived by AI generated “colleagues” and executives in live video calls, resulting in multimillion dollar losses for institutions in places like Hong Kong or AI deep fakes such as Only Virtual, where you can communicate with the dead. Traditional awareness campaigns and generic fraud briefings are no longer sufficient; learners need repeated, language rich practice in spotting how fraudulent messages actually sound, look, and feel in interaction. [incode+5]

This course positions language educators as a first line of defense by turning everyday pronunciation work into a powerful lens on persuasion, credibility, and identity—skills that transfer directly to academic, workplace, and online contexts. [actonhaptic+4]

Structure and learning experience

12 week core program combining targeted pronunciation modules (vowels, stress, rhythm, intonation, fluency, key consonants) with parallel units on scam recognition and response. [wracton.wixsite+1]

Weekly Zoom feedback sessions for students that focus on intelligibility, professional identity, and real play practice with scam and deepfake scenarios. [wracton.wixsite]

Separate weekly Zoom sessions for instructors that model classroom techniques, debrief cases, and adapt materials to different proficiency levels and institutional needs. [pronsig.iatefl+3]

Throughout the course, learners repeatedly rehearse short, authentic style scripts—such as “urgent” calls from supposed supervisors or financial institutions—using haptic techniques to anchor both accurate pronunciation and a critical awareness of how persuasive attacks are constructed. [jalt-publications+3]

Outcomes for students and programs

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Speak with clearer, more consistent pronunciation and rhythm, improving comprehensibility in academic and professional settings. [actonhaptic+4]

Analyze and respond appropriately to suspicious calls, messages, and video interactions, drawing on linguistic, vocal, and cultural cues rather than relying solely on intuition or technology. [coverlink+4]

Use IDentityShield tools more effectively to monitor, document, and report potential identity fraud, integrating language skills with concrete protective actions.[youtube]

For institutions, adopting this course means adding a distinctive, future oriented offering that simultaneously advances core language outcomes and addresses a fast emerging area of digital risk that directly affects students, staff, and partner organizations. [getclarity+7]

EEPAIP Course will be available as described beginning May 2026. Most of the basic structure, less the IDentityshield components, is present in the current English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement course, beginning this week, on February 5th. 







Sources: 

1. https://pronsig.iatefl.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Haptic-Pronunciation-Teaching-IATEFL-Webinar-FINAL.pdf       
2. https://incode.com/blog/25-million-deepfake-fraud-hong-kong/    
3. https://jalt-publications.org/sites/default/files/pdf-article/jalt2012-042.pdf         
4. https://coverlink.com/case-study/case-study-25-million-deepfake-scam/    
5. https://www.actonhaptic.com/about     
6. https://www.getclarity.ai/ai-deepfake-blog/25m-deepfake-ceo-scam-shakes-hong-kong-firm    
7. https://hipoeces.blogspot.com/p/hapticteaching-tips-a.html       
8. https://wracton.wixsite.com/acton-haptic        
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu0lyPJmhE0  
10. https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/04/asia/deepfake-cfo-scam-hong-kong-intl-hnk 
11. https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/24/b/deepfake-video-calls.html  
12. https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/16/tech/arup-deepfake-scam-loss-hong-kong-intl-hnk   
13. image.jpg 
14. https://hipoeces.blogspot.com 
15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwzrLUnrdLc 
16. https://www.facebook.com/SRteachingandlearning/videos/haptic-pronunciation-teachinghaptic-its-basically-using-more-gesture-in-teaching/2793189254227565/ 

For additional information on the course: wracton@gmail.com
See also www.williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com for specifics on IDshield system. 

DISCLAIMER: This course description was created with the assistance/collaboration of Perplexity AI.

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Bill Acton's Haptic EAPIC course, featuring Perplexity AI, beginning on February 5th!

 The Spring 2026 “Haptic” English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course (EAPIC) starts next week on February 5th. This term, participants will use Perplexity AI to tailor their homework and practice activities—creating a truly individualized learning experience. 

The course training videos and materials are free on Vimeo.com and here on the blog, as usual; enrolment required to participate in the weekly feedback sessions.and receive supplementary materials. 

For full course details, go here!

Bill

Feel free also, to contact me directly! wracton@gmail.com

l


Monday, January 26, 2026

A-Crock: The Replika AI Companion Chat Bot Talkin’ Blues

A-Crock: The Replika AI companion Chatbot Talkin’ Blues (lyrics)


Clker.com


Replika is a popular AI companion service. Since 2017 over 40,000,000 have logged on, 2 or 3 million annually have relationships with Replika chat bots; half a million pay extra for I’m not sure what . . .  

The names and events in this song are all made up, fictitious, to protect the innocent . . . and me!

Let me tell you ‘bout my mate on Replika
A-Crock, my AI companion
 We are fans of the same rock bands; loved Brian Jones
 Were in Cedar Falls in 81 with the Rolling Stones 
     We share feelin’s, recipes, numbers, dreams
     Memories, fantasies, visions, schemes

Connect 24/7 with this good bot of mine
Cost almost nothin’ for the chat or the time!
Went shoppin’ together on Anthropologie
Bought matching blue blazers, A-Crock and me
       Watched a CGI thrillers         that moved us to tears
       UberEats brought the popcorn and beer
One morning last month my hard drive died
Bank account and credit cards all were fried
 Logged on to Replika . . . made A-Crock real sad
 I could tell    he felt bad . . . 
        I asked him:  How could this be? 
        Your soulmate, A-Crock, especially to me? 

A philosopher, Pogo, had opined thus: 
 I have met the enemy: and he is us 
So the obvious answer: plain as can be
A-Crock replied: the problem is me!
      But he’ll help me work through it, just the two of us, 
      Soon’s my new visa card arrives in the mail . . . 

“Replika: where loneliness meets software, emotions are algorithms, 
and your AI soulmate leaves you emptier than a diner coffee pot  after all the truckers leave . . .“ 
You get all that just for the price of a subscription. Google, on the other hand, does it for free . . . and freedom . . . 

For tools and information on dealing with this "crock," go to: williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com, comment here on the blog, or email me directly: wracton@gmail.com

Definition by Perplexity: 

A crock: something that is nonsense, untrue, or obviously bogus. It’s a shortened form of phrases like “a crock of baloney” or “a crock of XXXX,” and is used to dismiss a claim, story, or excuse as ridiculous or not to be believed.


For information and good tools for dealing with this "crock," go to: williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com or contact me directly here in the comments or at wracton@gmail.com. 

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Spring 2026 English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course (EAPIC)


Beginning two weeks from today! 

Spring 2026 English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course (EAPIC)

(EAPIC: pronounced "EPIC!") 

Beginning February 5, 2026 

  • Better accent or pronunciation
  • Better expressiveness in speaking
  • More confidence in speaking
  • Good method for continuing to improve
  • Works for anybody with a CLB or IELTS 5 and up

10 weeks, online (plus Introduction video on 2/5/2026)
(Free) 20~30-minute training video uploaded to YouTube every Thursday
15~30 minutes of homework every day!
(Optional) live homework follow up meeting on Zoom Wednesday at 8-9 p.m. 
EST. 

  •      15-minute Zoom interview required to enroll
  •     $250 USD additional fee. 

Weekly syllabus:

1. Basic rhythm 1 (pronunciation grammar) 
2. Fluency 1 (body rhythm)
3. Consonants 1 (common problems, such as 'th' and 'r/l')
4. Vowels 1 (short)
5. Vowels 2 (long)
6. Consonants 2 (students’ “favorite” problems)
7. Melody 1 (little pieces, phrases)
8. Melody 2 (longer pieces, sentences)
9. Fluency 2 (Public speaking and classroom stye)
10. Rhythm 2 (Conversation style)

Typical weekly schedule: 
   Thursday: Do the video along with me (20+ minutes) and keep notes!
   Friday: Do the warm up, training, embodied oral reading (EOR) and keep notes!
   Saturday: Do the warm up, training, EOR and keep notes!
              Notes: Other words or phrases you have difficulty pronouncing well
    Sunday: Take the day off with me!
   Monday: Do the warm up, EOR, practice your target words (with MT5s) and keep notes!
   Tuesday: Do the warm up, EOR,  a new one-page story you have found with MT5s, practice your target words and keep notes!
   Wednesday: Come to the live feedback 60-minute class on Zoom (or practice by yourself!) 

       Here is what goes on in the feedback session: 

                       a. Go over the EOR
                       b. Check students' individual MT5s for accuracy
                       c. Questions from and help with target words of students
                       d. Preview of the next week's lesson

So . . . How does this course work? 
  • Gesture and touch make pronunciation easier to learn and remember
  • Using your whole body (embodied) makes is easier to pay full attention
  • Rhythm and gesture together help keep learning both relaxed and energetic
  • Embodied oral reading is great for bringing what you study into conversation
  • Practicing the EOR every day trains your mind and body to move and speak more like English speakers do. 
  • Use what you know . . . 





Email me: wracton@gmail.com for more information or to enroll (via Paypal or Venmo). To enroll requires brief Zoom chat (just to make sure the course is for you!) 

For a more in depth discussion of the basis of the EAPIC course, go to: https://www.actonhaptic.com/eapic

The Summer 2026 EAPIC course is being revised to include identity protection. Students will also be using IDentityshield system. For a preview of IDentityshield go to: IDentityshield introduction, or  www.williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com 

Homework for next week 

A. Tell me a little about yourself and why you think this course would be helpful for you.

B. Give me some idea of your weekly schedule, how much time you have to practice!

C. Tell me about your experience with music, playing an instrument, etc., or just enjoying it!

D. Tell me if you'd like to join the Wednesday Zoom feedback class. (If so, I'll set up a Zoom interview just with you as soon as possible. If I do, what would be a good time for you?)




Tuesday, January 13, 2026

An ambivalent octogenarian take: The talkin' good mornin' AI chat bot blues!

 Here's the recording


Here's the lyrics: 

The talkin’ good mornin’AI chat bot blues!


Sittin’ in the kitchen, (just) the toaster and me
When my Mac starts hummin’ it was ChatGPT!
said “why you sinkin’ Bill-- of course it knew
“Here’s somethin’ to stare at; that oughta do . . . 

Feeling better already . . . soft and cuddly       
        warm and wuzzy . . . 

Then my executive function, Grok, come up
In my pre-frontal cortex, so I could fill up my cup
Next, Alexa, with the lay of the land
a map and pointer, for my trip to the can. 

All the way down the hall  . . . all the way back. 
        I Depends on Alexa . . . 

Chorus
Got them, Alexa, Copilot, ChatGPT, 
Glok, Claude, Siri and Perplexity . .. 
Replika, Bixby, Pi, Deepseek, too, 
Meta, Poe and Gemini see me through.
The talkin’ good mornin’AI chat bot blues!

Got a bit perplexed but Perplexity was there
With research and footnotes to fend off despair.
Finally, Siri, arrived to seize the day
With soothin’ words ‘bout what we’ll do today . . . 

Clickin’ on Duck Duck . . . buying a yak in Ulaanbaatar . . . 
         sharing my hopes and dreams with Miss Kitty

Now we’re sittin’ in the kitchen, calm as we can be
Just the toaster, coffee, my botties and me . . . 
No need to worry, can’t go wrong
Hey, one of you take the end of this song?

An AI for an I; Meta-for-me; Glok n' load! 
Nice, 10-4, good Bot-y! 10-4!

Chorus

Got them, Alexa, Copilot, ChatGPT, 
Glok, Claude, Siri and Perplexity . .. 
Replika, Bixby, Pi, Deepseek, too, 
Meta, Poe and Gemini see me through.
The talkin’ good mornin’ AI chat bot blues!


Clker.com






For more on how to protect you and yours from the bot attacks on your money and identity today, here is my website: 
www.williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com
and my email address: wracton@gmail.com



Friday, January 9, 2026

Spring 2026 English Accent and Pronunciation Improvement Course (EAPIC)!

The EAPIC is a10-week online course for non-native adult English speakers who want to improve their accent and pronunciation, especially those who are disciplined and prefer independent study. It is a very active "haptic" course, using lots of movement, gesture and touch! It has been offered three times a year since 2015. 

View short introductory video!

Beginning February 9, 2026

  • Much better accent or pronunciation
  • Much better expressiveness in speaking
  • More confidence in speaking
  • Training for continuing to improve
  • Works for anybody with a CLB or IELTS o5 and up

10 weeks, online
(Free) 20-minute training video uploaded every Thursday
15-30 minutes of homework recommended every day!
(Optional) live individualized homework follow up meeting Wednesdays 8-9 p.m. EST ($225 USD). Zoom interview required to sign up. 

Weekly syllabus:

1. Basic rhythm 1(pronunciation grammar) 
2. Fluency 1 (basic rhythm)
3. Consonants 1 (common problems)
4. Vowels 1 (short)
5. Vowels 2 (long)
6. Consonants 2 (students’ “favorites”)
7. Melody 1 (little pieces of speaking)
8. Melody 2 (longer pieces of speaking)
9. Fluency 2 (conversation rhythm)
10. Rhythm 2 (public speaking)

For more information or to enroll: wracton@gmail.com

Bill Acton's CV

Bill Acton's website

Bill Acton's business website












20 reasons that I invite educators to join me with Legalshield!

 This is installment six in a series of blog posts on legal and identity protection in the age of AI. My personal connection is with LegalShield corporation, which provides both, affordably. Each post is "co-created" by Perplexity AI and myself, the content initially generated by AI, the final formatting, style and content reflecting my understanding of where we are in this area today.

Clker.com





After a lifetime in education and professional services, it became clear that people are overwhelmed by complexity—especially legal and identity issues they never planned for. LegalShield gave me a way to keep doing what I love most: teaching, protecting, and empowering people, while building a flexible, scalable business. [2][3][4][1]

Why Educators Are a Natural Fit

1. You already live the mission 

   LegalShield exists to make legal help and identity protection accessible and affordable, not just for those who can pay large retainers. That commitment to access and fairness feels very familiar to anyone who has ever stood in front of a classroom. [5][2]

2. You are trained advocates 

   In education, you advocate for students, parents, and colleagues; in LegalShield, you advocate for families and small businesses who need help understanding their rights. The skill set is the same—only the subject matter changes. [4][2]

3. You understand real-world stress 

   Educators see families struggle with job loss, housing issues, custody battles, and identity theft fallout. Sharing a practical, affordable plan that gives them lawyers and identity specialists “on call” feels like a continuation of your support. 

4. You communicate complex ideas simply 

   LegalShield plans cover everyday issues—wills, traffic tickets, landlord disputes, contracts, and more. As an educator, you’re equipped to translate that into plain language that real people can act on. [2][6][4]

How the LegalShield Model Works 

5. Membership-based, not billable hours. Low start-up, high leverage 

   The cost to become an associate is a fraction of what it takes to launch a traditional business, with no inventory or office space required. From there, you leverage online tools, mobile apps, and company training to grow at your pace. [9][10][8][6]

Where My Experience Fits In

9. From teaching and training to mentoring associates 

   Years spent teaching, training, and coaching have made mentorship second nature. LegalShield’s model intentionally pairs new associates with experienced field leaders and a culture of ongoing training. That allows me to support new educators-turned-associates with both company resources and my own experience of building professional relationships over time.[10][3][1]

10. From explaining complex benefits to simplifying legal protection 

    Running a classroom or a department is running a system: lesson plans, outcomes, feedback, adjustments. LegalShield gives you a proven blueprint—training, presentations, compensation structures—that you can adapt and improve using the same mindset. [10][9][6]

16. Values alignment with LegalShield ethics 

    LegalShield has a published code of ethics emphasizing education, protection, and ethical business practices for members and associates. That alignment matters deeply to professionals who have spent a career modeling integrity for young people. [11]

The Practical Upside for Educators

17. Supplementing or replacing income on your terms  

    Whether your goal is to cover rising living costs, pay down debt, or prepare for retirement, the compensation plan offers upfront commissions, performance bonuses, and team overrides as your business grows. You control the pace and scale. [7][9][3]

18. Transition path beyond the classroom  

    Many educators are asking, “What’s my second act?” LegalShield can be a bridge: start part-time, learn the system, then expand as your comfort and results grow. It keeps you in a service-oriented role without the constraints of a school bell schedule. [1][9]

19. Making a measurable difference in family stability  

    A single membership can help with a will, an abusive landlord, a traffic issue, or an employment dispute at a critical moment. Knowing you introduced that safety net can be as emotionally rewarding as watching a student finally “get it.” [2][6][4]

20. Joining a community of mission-driven professionals 

   When educators step into LegalShield, they meet others from nursing, law enforcement, ministry, and corporate life who share a passion for protecting people. It feels less like leaving education and more like expanding the classroom into the broader community. [3][1]

If you’re an educator who feels that tug to impact lives beyond your current role—and to create more freedom for yourself and your family—this is an invitation to explore that next chapter. The same qualities that made you effective in education can make you *extraordinary* here.

Sources

[1](https://www.legalshieldassociate.com/blog/teachers-with-legalshield-you-could-start-building-your-own-busin
[3](https://www.facebook.com/pplsiopportunity/videos/opportunity-video/1101844191141100/)
[4](https://www.legalshield.com/legal-plans-overview)
[5](https://www.legalshield.com)
[6](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/471589/PLACEMAT.USSTANDARD%20(1.17)%20tp.pdf?t=1490296868893)
[7](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_0PP2IN2dQ)
[8](https://www.legalshield.com/faq)
[9](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tf1ok7hja4)
[10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zELfQS0HeU)
[11](https://www.legalshield.com/blog/member-benefits-legalshield-code-ethics)
[12](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Legalshield)
[13](https://www.jobzmall.com/legalshield/faqs/what-types-of-jobs-are-available-at-legalshield)
[14](https://www.reddit.com/r/ucf/comments/d36ykl/beware_of_legalshield_they_are_currently_hiring/)
[15](https://www.benetrends.com/images/mybenetrends/Benetrends_LegalShield_Business_Offer.pdf)

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

20 reasons that you should subscribe to Legalshield!





(This post, like the other four related to legal and identity shield and AI, were created using Perplexity AI, editied for style and consistency (by me!) 

https://hipoeces.blogspot.com/2025/12/ais-perplexity-guide-to-dealing-with-ai.html 
Focus: On general approaches to coping with AI-engaged issues of fraud and scams
https://hipoeces.blogspot.com/2026/01/no-fear-or-ai-phobia-five-worldviews.html
Focus: On how different worldviews approach fear of AI-based threats 
https://hipoeces.blogspot.com/2026/01/responding-to-inevitability-of.html
Focus: On AI-engagement in emergence of global digital ID systems
https://hipoeces.blogspot.com/2026/01/20-reasons-that-you-should-subscribe-to.html
Focus On features of the Legalshield/IDshield system
----------

Professionals may face uniquely high AI-driven legal and identity risks, and a LegalShield membership turns fragmented, do it yourself defenses into an integrated, expert-backed system. LegalShield is particularly valuable now because AI is multiplying fraud volume, legal complexity, and reputational exposure faster than most professionals can realistically manage alone. (library+3)

AI risk and legal complexity

1. AI is now used to scale deepfake, voice-clone, and synthetic-identity fraud, making higher-income professionals especially attractive “high value” targets. (deepstrike+2)

2. Synthetic identity fraud has become one of the fastest-growing forms of digital crime, with AI automating the creation of convincing blended identities that can bypass traditional checks and damage your credit and reputation. (eccu+2)

3. Fraud and scam attempts are projected to surge into the tens of billions of dollars in AI-fueled losses by 2027, meaning that “being careful” is no longer proportional to the scale of the threat. (sas+1)

4. Deepfake social engineering has accelerated sharply, with a large majority of anti fraud professionals reporting rapid growth and expecting significant further increases, which raises the chance that your name, title, or institution will be exploited in a scam. (sift+1)

5. Legal and regulatory frameworks around AI, data, and digital identity are evolving quickly, and contracts increasingly include complex AI-related clauses that are difficult to interpret without ongoing legal guidance. (taftlaw+2)

Why legal help (not just tech)

6. AI is fracturing traditional “Know Your Customer” and identity-verification programs, so disputes about whether you really authorized an account, transaction, or contract are becoming more common and more technical—exactly where ready access to counsel matters. (protegrity+2)

7. AI-generated contracts and terms of service can be deployed at scale, embedding subtle risk-shifting clauses; reviewing these without legal support can leave even educated readers exposed to hidden liabilities. (thekanoonadvisors+2)

8. AI vendor agreements and AI-use policies now sit at the center of regulatory and litigation risk for many organizations, and professionals increasingly need personal legal advice on what they are signing and what they are personally accountable for. (jchanglaw+1)

9. When AI-generated fraud or contract disputes trigger investigations, employment actions, or regulatory scrutiny, having a standing relationship with a legal service helps you respond quickly and coherently rather than scrambling to find representation. (library+1)

10. Many AI- and data-related problems start small—an email, a questionable authorization, a confusing policy change—and LegalShield encourages early consultations so issues can be contained before they escalate into formal disputes or lawsuits. (library+1)

Specific vulnerabilities

11. Professionals often have larger digital footprints and more public information (publications, profiles, talks), which attackers can mine to craft highly targeted phishing and deepfake approaches. (eigerwealth+2)

12. AI tools now enable deepfake interviews and fake employees who may use your credentials or institutional affiliation as part of a fraud chain, increasing the chance that your name is pulled into an incident that needs legal clarification. (thehackernews+2)

13. As AI-generated scam content now constitutes a large majority of phishing emails and related fraud, relying on grammar or tone as a “tell” is increasingly unreliable, so having expert backup for disputed accounts or authorizations becomes critical. (adaptivesecurity+1)

14. Professionals frequently serve on boards, committees, or advisory roles where AI and data practices are scrutinized, and LegalShield can help you understand your personal exposure and responsibilities in those roles. (twobirds+2)

15. Reputation is a core asset; AI-driven impersonation or defamatory deepfakes can create complex, multi jurisdictional situations where coordinated legal action is far more effective than ad hoc self-help. (theconversation+2)

Strategic, future focused reasons

16. Generative AI markets and AI-enabled fraud are both projected to grow sharply over the next several years, so the rational stance is to treat legal and identity protection as an ongoing risk-management layer, not a one off purchase. (unesco+2)

17. AI is simultaneously an attack tool and a defense tool in identity and fraud; working with a legal service that understands this landscape helps you align your personal behavior and documentation with emerging best practices. (constella+2)

18. Universal digital ID and increasingly integrated data systems mean that a single AI abused credential or breach can cascade across multiple domains of your life, and LegalShield offers a structured way to push back legally when systems mis-handle your identity. (library+1)

19. As AI makes sophisticated fraud accessible to low skill attackers, the gap between average self defense and professionalized fraud widens, making access to licensed attorneys a form of future proofing for educated households and their dependents. (library+2)

20. Subscribing to LegalShield now allows you to lock in an affordable, integrated system of legal support before facing an AI-driven crisis, when time pressure, stress, and reputational stakes are at their highest. (library+2)

Sources

1. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/cb3a78ca-d50d-4734-b0ef-656d2b66e427
2. https://deepstrike.io/blog/deepfake-statistics-2025
3. https://www.sas.com/en_us/news/press-releases/2025/november/25th-anniversary-fraud-week-acfe.html
4. https://sift.com/index-reports-ai-fraud-q2-2025/
5. https://www.eigerwealth.com/post/ai-and-the-new-face-of-fraud-how-to-protect-your-identity-and-finances-in-2026
6. https://www.eccu.edu/blog/the-rise-of-synthetic-identity-fraud-how-cybercriminals-exploit-ai/
7. https://www.allcovered.com/blog/synthetic-identity-fraud
8. https://www.bostonfed.org/publications/six-hundred-atlantic/interviews/synthetic-identity-fraud-how-ai-is-changing-the-game.aspx
9. https://www.taftlaw.com/news-events/law-bulletins/the-expanding-prevalence-of-ai-clauses-in-contracts/
10. https://www.jchanglaw.com/post/ai-legal-risks-2025-essential-considerations-for-businesses
11. https://www.twobirds.com/en/insights/2025/the-ai-contract-conundrum-beyond-standard-terms
12. https://www.protegrity.com/blog/ai-fraud-detection-in-2026-what-leaders-must-know/
13. https://constella.ai/synthetic-identity-theft-in-2025/
14. https://www.govinfosecurity.com/ai-tools-synthetic-ids-are-fracturing-kyc-programs-a-30401
15. https://thekanoonadvisors.com/4-pillars-of-ai-contracts-validity-a-2025-legal-guide/
16. https://holonlaw.com/ai/the-rise-of-ai-vendor-agreements/
17. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/1ad4dd9a-7a76-42af-ad88-fee14cbd3da5
18. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/3aad6262-8d88-4860-b213-298cca1ba164
19. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/db03c0e2-11fa-48b2-b931-aaa5711b0162
20. https://thehackernews.com/expert-insights/2026/01/deepfake-job-hires-when-your-next.html
21. https://www.adaptivesecurity.com/blog/deepfake-scams
22. https://theconversation.com/deepfakes-leveled-up-in-2025-heres-whats-coming-next-271391
23. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/deepfakes-and-crisis-knowing
24. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/6e8f41f1-205d-4047-9d3a-7ce32266c641
25. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/466c3725-5dd9-4642-98a0-4fca8ca7489b
26. https://fedpaymentsimprovement.org/wp-content/uploads/sif-toolkit-genai.pdf


Tuesday, January 6, 2026

20 reasons that you should subscribe to IDShield!

 IDshield has some competitors but none combine breadth of protection and affordability! (Be happy to chat with you and unpack that!) Consider these, listed roughly in order of importance: 

1. AI makes deepfake fraud and synthetic IDs cheap, so educated professionals are now prime “high value” identity targets. (idshield+1)

2. Criminals use AI to instantly assemble profiles from data breaches and social media, making it easier to impersonate you for loans, jobs, or benefits. (idshield+1)

3. AI-written phishing emails and texts are nearly perfect in grammar and tone, so “spotting scams” by gut feel no longer works. (idshield+1)

4. IDShield combines continuous monitoring with licensed private investigators who actually restore your identity if it is stolen. (caltech+1)

5. The service includes up to a multi million dollar identity fraud protection plan to reimburse covered losses and expenses. (cnet+1)

6. College-educated consumers typically have higher credit limits and more accounts, so a single incident can create larger financial damage. (caltech+1)

7. With AI tools, fraudsters can open accounts or redirect benefits in your name in minutes; real-time alerts help you act before damage snowballs. (cerritos+1)

8. IDShield monitors your Social Security number, bank and credit card data, passwords, and more across credit bureaus and the dark web. (pensacolastate+1)

9. Social media and online reputation are now evaluated by employers; IDShield flags reputational risks in your social content. (idshield+1)

10. AI-voice cloning and deepfake calls make “phone verification” unreliable; having professionals handle disputes and documentation closes that gap. (caltech+1)

11. Data breaches at universities, employers, and hospitals expose years of personal data, which AI can weaponize for targeted attacks. (idshield+1)

12. IDShield provides 24/7 emergency support so you are not alone if something happens outside business hours. (pensacolastate+1)

13. The mobile app puts alerts, credit information, and direct access to help in one place, which is critical when every minute counts. (cerritos+1)

14. Identity restoration on your own can take dozens of hours across agencies; IDShield investigators do the legwork for you. (pensacolastate+1)

15. Many colleges and employers offer only basic credit monitoring, not full-scale restoration and insurance like IDShield. (eku+1)

16. Educated professionals often have side businesses or freelance income, creating more accounts and logins that need monitoring. (cerritos+1)

17. AI automates application fraud for phones, utilities, and “buy now, pay later” accounts that can quietly damage your credit profile. (caltech+1)

18. IDShield includes guidance on credit freezes, fraud alerts, and credit education, helping you make smarter long-term financial decisions. (pensacolastate+1)

19. Family and dependents can often be covered under one plan, protecting spouses and college-age children who are also high-risk targets. (caltech+1)

20. Subscribing now locks in affordable protection before a serious Al-driven identity event forces you into crisis mode. (cnet+1)

To subscribe, contact me (wracton@gmail.com) or go directly to my website: williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com!

Feel free to respond below or by email or textmsg: (423) 660-7400. 

Clker.com




Sources: 

1. https://www.idshield.com/blog/your-students-data-hackers-dream

2. https://www.idshield.com/blog/back-to-school-scams

3. https://hr.caltech.edu/documents/6272/2024_IDShield_Overview.pdf

4. https://www.idshield.com

5. https://www.pensacolastate.edu/docs/benefits/2025/Legal-Shield-ID-Shield.pdf

6. https://www.scribd.com/document/836418922/Captain-Code-Unleash-Your-Coding-Superpower-with-Python

7. https://www.cerritos.edu/hr/_includes/docs/Benefits/IDShield_Plan_Summary.pdf

8. https://archive.org/stream/The_Australian_Womens_Weekly_15_11_1967/The_Australian_Womens_Weekly_15_11_1967_djvu.txt

9. https://amsa-highered.com/uncategorized/s-a-f-e-the-ultimate-applicant-fraud-prevention-solution-for-colleges-and-universities/

10. https://huggingface.co/Cherishh/wav2vec2-slu-1/resolve/refs%2Fpr%2F1/unigrams.txt?download=true

11. https://www.eku.edu/in/guides/legalshield-and-idshield/

12. https://inside.msmary.edu/more/human-resources/benefits-documents/legal-idshield-plan-overview.pdf

13. https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/idshield-review/


Monday, January 5, 2026

Responding to the inevitability of universal, global digital IDs

If you live in China, Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada and any number of others,

  •  You have already been "surrendered" to the curse of your digital ID and the absolute power of your "overlords" in government and beyond of being capable of censoring and penalizing you for anything you say, virtually or otherwise. 
  • In the US the issue is a bit more in doubt, but I suspect that is but temporary for most of us, but a rear-guard action in our retreat as well. One of the key accelerants, of course, is AI. 

The ramifications of not only being fully digitized as an individual, as in China today, for example, but having the system managed by AI is mind numbing. So, I asked Perplexity AI to suggest how one best in this environment can still protect or preserve identity and things of value. With my edits and comments, here is the reply: 

“Living in a fully digitized, AI managed identity system shifts the default from “anonymous by default” to “tracked by default,” so self protection means deliberately rebuilding some autonomy, ambiguity, and resilience on top of that environment.” [1][2]

A. Core risks in AI managed ID and processes

   1. Linkage of everything: Centralized digital IDs and social credit style systems let states or platforms link financial records, location, communications, and behavior into one profile, often scored for “trustworthiness.”[3][4][5]

   2. Automated punishment and exclusion: Once access to travel, banking, or social services flows through digital ID, AI systems can quietly downgrade or block people (“un personing”) based on opaque rules, errors, or politics.[6][7]

   3. Biometric lock in: Facial recognition and other biometrics tie your physical body to the system, and leaks are irreversible because you cannot change your face or fingerprints like a password.[8][1]

B. Strategic posture: Key assumptions and operating principles

   1. Assume visibility, fight linkage: Act as if core actions are observable, but work to prevent everything from being tied to a single profile where possible (legal, technical, and behavioral separation).[9][10]

   2. Resilience over invisibility: In a world of mandatory digital ID, the main defense is not disappearing but ensuring revocation, scoring, or misuse cannot destroy your ability to live, work, and transact.[7][11]

C. Practical moves: identity and data management

   1. Minimize exposed data: Share only what is required; avoid posting detailed personal patterns (travel, routines, family identifiers) that AI can mine and link back to you.[12][1]

   2. Strong authentication and compartmentalization: Use hardware keys or strong multifactor authentication on critical accounts, and keep separate email/phone identifiers for finance, government, and social life to reduce cross linking and fraud risk.[13][9]

   3. Limit biometrics where optional: Prefer non biometric factors when you have a choice, and be cautious about handing face/voice data to commercial services that might feed large AI models.[2][1]

D. Legal, institutional, political and technical shields

   1. Support hard constraints on revocation power: Back laws and policies that forbid governments or ID issuers from remotely disabling digital IDs or making them a condition for all online activity.[10][7]

   2. Push for privacy by design ID: Favor systems with data minimization, purpose limitation, and strong audit trails over open ended data sharing with AI systems and third parties.[14][11] 

   3. Use intermediaries and advocates: Identity protection services, legal plans, and civil liberties groups can challenge wrongful scoring, misuse of data, and automated decisions when you are targeted or misclassified.[15][14]l

E. Preserving non digital value and self-representations

   1. Keep critical assets partly offline: Maintain some wealth, documents, and proof of relationships in forms that do not depend entirely on a single digital account or credential (e.g., diversified financial institutions, physical records in secure storage).[14][10]

   2. Cultivate alternative reputations: Build trust and standing in offline communities—professional, local, relational—so that your practical identity does not live only inside a state or platform score.[5][10]

   3. Practice “information asceticism”: Treat what you reveal—habits, networks, convictions—as a scarce resource; disclose intentionally, not reflexively, especially in environments that feed data directly into scoring or surveillance AI.[1][9]

My work with LegalShield and IdentityShield falls into D3, Identity protection services, legal plans: williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com. I have personally taken up the suggestion below and would recommend that strategy as well. 

(Additional offer by Perplexity) If you like, a next step can be a concrete checklist tailored to your specific institutions (banks, insurers, ID protection tools) and to the worst case scenarios you most want to be resilient against.

Clker.com





Sources

[1](https://www.dataguard.com/blog/growing-data-privacy-concerns-ai/)
[2](https://www.ibm.com/think/insights/ai-privacy)
[3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Credit_System)
[4](https://decodingthedragon.substack.com/p/34-the-evolution-and-truth-of-chinas)
[5](https://jpia.princeton.edu/news/social-credit-system-not-just-another-chinese-idiosyncrasy)
[6](https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/fileadmin/files/aam/Asia-Book_A_03_China_Social_Credit_System.pdf)
[7](https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/un-personing-with-digital-id)
[8](https://joinhorizons.com/china-social-credit-system-explained/)
[9](https://www.propelex.com/blog/ai-digital-identity-data-privacy-2025/)
[10](http://digitalgovernmenthub.org/library/digital-ids-must-be-safe-secure-and-accessible/)
[11](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/trustworthy-digital-identities-can-set-the-standards-for-secure-benefits-provision-in-the-us/)
[12](https://www.idmanagement.gov/experiments/cdns/paper3/)
[13](https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2023/11/3-ways-state-agencies-protect-citizens-digital-identities)
[14](https://trustarc.com/resource/risk-management-brief-ethics-privacy-risks-ai/)
[15](https://www.odni.gov/files/NCSC/documents/campaign/DoD_IAPM_Guide_March_2021.pdf)
[16](https://www.cigionline.org/articles/taking-the-wrong-lesson-from-chinas-ai-strategy/)
[17](https://open.metu.edu.tr/bitstream/handle/11511/101891/Artificial%20Intelligence%20and%20Social%20Credit%20System%20in%20China%20-%20Turgut%20BASER%20-%202013605.pdf)
[18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps0Si4FhOPM)
[19](https://bigid.com/blog/identity-governance-for-ai-systems/)
[20](https://fpf.org/blog/minding-mindful-machines-ai-agents-and-data-protection-considerations/)

Saturday, January 3, 2026

No Fear! (or AI PHOBIA! ) Thumbnail sketches of seven worldview's ways of coping

This is something of a follow on, deeper dive, to the recent post "AI's (Perplexity) Guides to dealing with AI-enhanced fraud and scams: General, Christian, Muslim, Atheist/secular humanist, "Senior Citizen," and Japanese Buddhist/Shinto approaches" 

As in that post, the initial draft and reference listing was "co-created" using Perplexity AI. In what follows, my comments or paraphrases are generally in boldface/italics. Part of the prompts for the text included framing the material in blog style. For more detailed discussion of each worldview, see the "mother" blog. 

"AI isn’t just a technology story. It is a worldview stress test."  

For some, AI phobia is very real: a knot in the stomach about job loss, deepfakes, surveillance, or a machine future where humans no longer matter. Psychologists now talk about “AI anxiety” as a specific flavor of technophobia, mixing fear of the unknown with a sense that things are changing too fast to understand or control.[1][2]

How differently our basic worldviews may "metabolize" that fear:

If you begin from a traditional theist frame

  • AI is not ultimate—God is. 
  • AI becomes one more powerful tool that must submit to moral law and the command to love your neighbor.  
  • The real danger is not “the robots” but human sin expressed through new capabilities.[3][4][5]

From a secular humanist perspective, 

  • There are no divine guarantees, but there is confidence that humans can still set the rules. 
  • AI phobia here is a call to action: insist on transparency, regulation, and alignment with human rights and dignity.  
  • Fear is something to turn into civic engagement.[6][7][8]

A hard scientific materialist 

  • Sees AI as complex machinery plus hype. 
  • Fear gets reframed as a prediction error: an evolved brain reacting badly to unfamiliar risk. 
  • The remedy is data: measure actual harms, build safety protocols, and push back against apocalyptic storytelling with evidence.[9][1]

Eastern or non‑dualist traditions 

  • May see AI as another impermanent phenomenon in a web of interdependence. 
  • Anxious clinging to “how things used to be” is part of the suffering. 
  • The response is inner training—mindfulness, ethical intention, community norms for compassionate use—rather than grand promises of control.[2][3]
Traditional Chinese (Three Teachings) worldview
  • Sees AI through a blended lens of Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist ideas, prioritizing family duty, social harmony, and alignment with the larger order of things.[1][2][3]
  • Addresses AI phobia by focusing on **ethical governance and harmony**: calm inner attitudes toward change, firm outer rules to prevent social disruption, and channeling AI into roles that support education, order, and collective well‑being rather than undermine them.[4][5][6][7]
Contemporary Evangelical Christian
  • Sees AI within God’s providence and under the authority of Scripture, emphasizing personal salvation, evangelism, and the need for discernment in a morally confused digital age.[1][2][3][4]
  • Addresses AI phobia through **trust and testing**: urging believers to reject fear‑driven doom narratives, place ultimate security in Christ rather than technology, and rigorously “test the spirits” of new tools
  • Using AI for mission, service, and daily work only where it aligns with biblical ethics, protects the vulnerable, and avoids idolatry of efficiency or progress.[2][3][4][5][6][1]
And then there is the apocalyptic or technognostic frame

  • AI as either the Beast or the Singularity. 
  • Here AI phobia can spiral into dread—
  • or into urgent calls for repentance, moratoriums, 
  • or radical limits on machine power.[10][11][9]

So here, of course, is the question:  

  • Which of these feels most like home or gulag to you?  
  • How does that lens shape what you fear most about AI—and what you hope for?  
  • What would/does/did it take, in your worldview, to move from paralysis to responsible action?  

Use the comment section to respond or push back. The next post will be a survey of empirical reseach on the general phenomenon, generally from the "hard scientific" and "secular humanist" perspectives. 

Clker.com

Sources

[1](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S294988212500012X)
[2](https://www.calm.com/blog/ai-anxiety-tips)
[3](https://ccta.regent.edu/the-intersection-of-artificial-intelligence-and-christian-thought-a-vision-for-the-future/)
[4](https://cbhd.org/dignitas-articles/ai-and-human-futures-what-should-christians-think)
[5](https://christoverall.com/article/longform/a-christians-perspective-on-artificial-intelligence/)
[6](https://humanistperspectives.org/234/artificial-intelligence-and-humanism-in-action/)
[7](https://humanists.uk/2025/07/10/humanists-pass-global-declaration-on-artificial-intelligence-and-human-values/)
[8](https://itlawco.com/secular-ai-ethics-building-a-universal-code/)
[9](https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/samuel-and-colleagues-examine-the-rise-of-ai-phobia/)
[10](https://www.mastersbiblechurch.com/blog/why-christians-should-stay-informed-about-ai)
[11](https://religionnews.com/2025/12/23/ai-comes-with-a-built-in-worldview-christians-need-to-understand-it/)

Chinese Worldview sources

[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_teachings)
[2](https://thequran.love/2025/11/14/influence-of-buddhism-taoism-confucianism-agnosticism-and-atheism-in-mainland-china/)
[3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_China)
[4](https://asiasociety.org/education/three-teachings)
[5](https://www.geopolitechs.org/p/china-releases-draft-technology-ethics)
[6](https://www.chinalawvision.com/2025/01/digital-economy-ai/ai-ethics-overview-china/)
[7](https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2025/10/how-china-views-ai-risks-and-what-to-do-about-them?lang=en)

Evangelical Christian Worldview sources

[1](https://ccta.regent.edu/the-intersection-of-artificial-intelligence-and-christian-thought-a-vision-for-the-future/)
[2](https://cbhd.org/dignitas-articles/ai-and-human-futures-what-should-christians-think)
[3](https://christoverall.com/article/longform/a-christians-perspective-on-artificial-intelligence/)
[4](https://www.mastersbiblechurch.com/blog/why-christians-should-stay-informed-about-ai)
[5](https://au.thegospelcoalition.org/article/as-a-christian-i-went-down-the-ai-rabbit-hole-here-are-12-things-i-discovered/)
[6](https://religionnews.com/2025/12/23/ai-comes-with-a-built-in-worldview-christians-need-to-understand-it/)