Cal State San Bernardino is spotlighting “AI Fools Week,” taking place March 31 through April 4, as part of a national effort to raise awareness about the growing risks of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity.

Introduced in 2025 by the National Cybersecurity Alliance ahead of April Fools’ Day, the campaign encourages individuals and organizations to better understand how AI is changing today’s online threats.

As artificial intelligence tools become more advanced and easier to use, cybercriminals are using them to carry out more convincing scams. These include deepfakes (AI-generated videos or audio that mimic real people), impersonation scams (where someone pretends to be a trusted contact), and phishing (a tactic that uses fake emails, texts or websites to trick people into sharing personal or financial information). At the same time, people may unknowingly share sensitive personal or work information when using AI tools.

Recent research from the National Cybersecurity Alliance shows just how widespread this issue is. A 2025 survey found that 58% of people have not received any training on the security or privacy risks tied to AI tools. At the same time, 43% say they’ve shared sensitive work information with AI without their employer’s knowledge. AI Fools Week is designed to help close this gap by offering simple, practical tips so people can spot AI-driven scams, think more carefully about what they see online, and better protect their information.

One simple yet powerful strategy highlighted by the National Cybersecurity Alliance is the use of a “safe word.” As AI tools can now clone voices and create realistic videos using only short clips, scammers can convincingly pretend to be family members, coworkers or even officials. A safe word is a pre-agreed code word or phrase shared among trusted people. In urgent or unusual situations, asking for the safe word can help confirm someone’s identity and prevent fraud. Among other strategies, the alliance also offers practical guidance on creating strong passwords and using multifactor authentication, an added layer of security that helps protect accounts even if a password is compromised.

At CSUSB, this campaign connects closely with the work of the university’s Center for Cyber and AI and School of Cyber and Decision Sciences, a hub for innovation, education and workforce development. The center helps lead cybersecurity education efforts, supports a national network of colleges and universities, and prepares students to respond to emerging threats involving artificial intelligence.

In conjunction with AI Fools Week, CSUSB is also unveiling a new commercial that highlights the impact and reach of its Center for Cyber and AI. The commercial showcases the university’s leadership in cybersecurity and AI education, including its designation as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and its support of more than 480 colleges and universities nationwide through the CAE Community National Center.

To learn more about the Center for Cyber and AI, visit the center’s website.