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AI’s Role In Human Evolution: Smaller Brains And Social Changes Ahead

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

A new scientific review explores AI’s influence on human evolution, predicting changes in brain size, attention spans, and social behaviors.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

• AI may accelerate trends towards smaller brains, attention spans, and mood-disorder susceptibilities.
• Human-AI interactions could impact social behaviors like intimacy, dating, and virtual friendships.
• Evolutionary changes from AI interactions likely small compared to cultural and well-being effects.

A new scientific review from the University of Chicago explores how AI could influence human evolution, particularly in terms of brain size, attention, social behaviors, and interpersonal dynamics.

Published in The Quarterly Review of Biology, the paper, titled How Might Artificial Intelligence Influence Human Evolution? , examines the potential evolutionary effects of everyday AI use and human-AI interactions.

Authored by Rob Brooks, the paper avoids overly dramatic scenarios like human extinction or assimilation by AI. Instead, it focuses on the more gradual and subtle evolutionary changes that could result from the increasing integration of AI into human lives, reports Phys.Org .

Brooks suggests that AI’s influence on human evolution might mirror the natural selection processes seen in domesticated animals, where certain traits are inadvertently or deliberately selected, says Phys.Org.

One key aspect of the paper is the comparison between human-AI interactions and interspecies relationships, such as predators and prey, or hosts and parasites.

According to Phys.Org, Brooks argues that just as these relationships have shaped the evolution of species, AI’s role in human society could similarly impact human evolution, especially in areas like matchmaking, intimacy, and social behaviors.

Brooks predicts several evolutionary trends resulting from AI’s influence, including a potential acceleration of the shift toward smaller brains, changes in attention spans, and the evolution of personality types and susceptibilities to mood disorders, says Phys.Org.

AI’s role in shaping social interactions, such as dating apps and virtual friendships, could also alter mating competition and intimacy-building behaviors, affecting human social evolution, reports Phys.Org.

However, the study notes that while AI’s effects on human life may be profound in terms of individual well-being and cultural evolution, its impact on gene frequencies and patterns of inheritance will likely be minor in comparison, as reported by Phys.Org.

Phys.Org says that Brooks emphasizes that predicting how AI will change humanity is a difficult task, and the evolutionary outcomes of these interactions are far from certain.

The book argues that the direction and rate of evolution can be hard to predict even for organisms kept under controlled conditions, highlighting the complexity of predicting human evolution in an AI-driven world, as reported by Phys.Org.

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614% Rise In ‘Scam-Yourself Attacks’

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Gen’s Q3/2024 report reveals a rise in “Scam-Yourself Attacks,” with increases in data theft, ransomware, and mobile spyware.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

• Data-theft malware increased by 39%, with Lumma Stealer rising by 1154%.
• Ransomware threats grew by 100%, with Magniber exploiting outdated Windows 7 software.
• Mobile spyware, including NGate, surged 166%, cloning bank card NFC data.

Gen Digital Inc., a global leader in consumer cybersecurity, released its Q3/2024 Threat Report on November 19, revealing a sharp rise in cybercriminal activities, including a staggering 614% increase in “Scam-Yourself Attacks.”

The report, based on data from millions of users worldwide, underscores how cybercriminals are rapidly adapting their tactics, using social engineering, AI, and deepfake technologies to make scams harder to spot.

Siggi Stefnisson, Cyber Safety CTO at Gen, said, “In July through September, scams continued to dominate the threat landscape, while data-theft abusing malware and ransomware also increased rapidly.”

Stefnisson continued, “Our consistent focus is to empower people with the tools they need, such as the Norton Genie scam detector, so they can protect their digital lives as threats evolve.”

“Scam-Yourself Attacks” are social engineering scams where cybercriminals trick individuals into installing malware on their own devices.

These attacks exploit people’s desire to learn new technologies or solve problems, like downloading software through fake tutorials or using ClickFix scams , where users are prompted to enter a command that gives cybercriminals control of their systems.

The report outlines several types of Scam-Yourself Attacks, including fake software updates, fake CAPTCHA prompts, and deceptive tutorials, all of which are designed to manipulate victims into allowing malware onto their devices.

Alongside the rise of scams, data-theft malware saw a significant increase in Q3/2024, with overall activity rising by 39%.

The Lumma Stealer malware, which targets sensitive information such as login credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, and browser data, increased its activity by a staggering 1154%.

Ransomware threats also escalated, with a 100% rise in risk ratio. The Magniber ransomware emerged as a leading threat, often exploiting outdated software like Windows 7 to gain access to systems.

Gen researchers continue to collaborate with governments worldwide to combat ransomware, offering free decryption tools for victims, including the recently released Avast Mallox Ransomware Decryptor.

On mobile devices, data-stealing malware also surged. Spyware increased by 166%, and a new strain, NGate, emerged, cloning bank card NFC data to make unauthorized withdrawals or payments.

Banking malware targeting credentials increased by 60%, with new strains like TrickMo and Octo2. These threats are often delivered through malicious SMS messages, reinforcing the need for strong mobile security.

Norton Genie, Gen’s AI-driven scam detector, adapts in real-time to detect AI-enhanced deception tactics.

Norton Genie’s 2024 telemetry data shows that after generic scams, smishing attempts—SMS messages impersonating banks, delivery services, or government agencies—are the most common (16.5%).

The report also showed that lottery scams and general phishing emails follow closely, emphasizing the growing complexity of digital threats.