AI Impersonation Scams and the Question of Accountability
The author describes receiving emails that appeared to be from a well-known author but were later confirmed as AI-generated. The piece examines how AI tools can impersonate public figures, erode trust, and raise questions about who is responsible for deceptive communications.
A psychologist and author received two emails that seemed to praise her recently published book. One appeared to come from author Kristin Hannah, someone she admired but had never met, and included personal reflections. After forwarding it to the PR team, she learned it was AI-generated.
Her book, Disconnection: The Search for Identity in a Digital Age, includes a chapter warning that AI poses an extreme danger. She also cited research by Eng and Yan (2026) finding that people regard machines as able to do wrong, yet feel less satisfied by justice after penalizing machines than people.
This story may deepen public caution toward messages that appear to come from admired figures. Authors, public figures, and ordinary recipients could face confusion and eroded trust, while platforms and developers may face pressure to clarify responsibility. Because the sender remains unknown, targets may be left to assess authenticity alone. Such incidents could make verification habits more common, but they may also discourage genuine engagement if people suspect every warm message is machine-made.