Connected Podcast Episode 205: Cybersecurity in the Age of AI

In this episode of Connected, Greg sits down with Nikhil Kalani, Reynolds' chief information security officer and vice president of information security, to discuss the cybersecurity threats dealerships are facing today and how AI is changing the game for both attackers and defenders. From deepfakes and financial fraud to ransomware and identity protection, Nikhil shares practical advice that every dealership leader should understand. In this episode, you'll hear: -How AI is making fraud attacks faster, cheaper, and more convincing than ever, including deepfake video and voice scams designed to trick employees into transferring funds. -Why identity security, phishing-resistant MFA, password managers, and employee training are becoming critical defenses in a rapidly evolving threat landscape. -How dealerships can build a stronger cybersecurity culture by combining the right technology, processes, and people to stay ahead of modern cyber threats. Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. It's a business issue that impacts every employee and every department. Get Connected with Nikhil Kalani! Introduction and Guest Overview: 0:00-1:13 The Evolution of Deepfakes: 1:14-2:22 FBI Fraud Statistics and AI Growth: 2:23-3:33 Real World Fraud Stories: 3:34-4:45 Real-Time Video and Voice Impersonation: 4:46-6:41 Building a Culture of Verification: 6:42-8:15 Adversary in the Middle (AiTM) Explained: 8:16-10:45 Phishing Resistant MFA and Hardware Keys: 10:46-12:28 Decreasing Dwell Times in Attacks: 12:29-14:41 Robot Wars - Automated Defense vs Attacks: 14:42-15:58 Why Identity is the New Perimeter: 15:59-17:27 Choosing the Right Password Manager: 17:28-19:31 Machine Speed Vulnerability Research: 19:32-21:32 The Future of Patching Frequencies: 21:33-23:06 Withholding Models for Safety Reasons: 23:07-24:38 The Rapid Pace of Model Releases: 24:39-25:42 Investing in the Human Firewall: 25:43-27:14 IT vs Security Specialization: 27:15-27:48 Employee Training and Deep Fake Exposure: 27:49-29:29 Final Summary and Outro: 29:30-31:05