Finance edition
AI makes fake bosses and fake invoices so convincing that a video call is no longer proof: this week is all about verification.
A fake boss calls about a payment: why you need to change your payment controls this week
Deepfake videos and cloned voices bypass the very checks that finance teams rely on.
In 2026, criminals are increasingly using deepfake videos and AI voice clones to carry out CEO fraud. They pose as a director or CFO and trick an employee into making a fake payment. The tools that finance teams trust most, a video call or a phone call, have become unreliable. Experts recommend a zero-trust approach: always use a second, familiar channel to confirm any financial request.
Background for subscribersA video call or phone call is no longer proof that you are really speaking to your boss or colleague. AI can replicate a face and voice in real time. For any unexpected payment request, always use a second, familiar channel to confirm it, for example a text to a known number or a direct call back. Phishing emails also look more professional than ever: 40% are already AI-generated. Always check requests to change a bank account number with extra care. If you use the OpenAI API, the temporary price cut on GPT-5.6 Sol makes heavy analysis cheaper right now. And the first AI legislation is already in force: make sure your team knows how to use AI tools responsibly.
40% of phishing emails are now AI-generated
According to data from Hoxhunt, around 40% of phishing emails in 2026 are written or significantly improved by AI. AI can now write in the style of your CFO, drawing on years of LinkedIn posts and internal messages. As a result, the email is almost indistinguishable from a genuine one. The average employee clicks a phishing link within 21 seconds. The average cost of a data breach is $4.88 million.
Background for subscribersThis is a taster.
Subscribers read the whole Finance edition: every story, each with its background in plain language.
Subscribe →