POLITICO Tech Craig Newmark sees an AI bubble. It may not be a bust.
Dec 4, 2025
Craig Newmark, the visionary behind Craigslist, now channels his efforts into combating disinformation and enhancing cybersecurity. In this discussion, he shares his thoughts on the risks of an emerging AI bubble, drawing parallels to the dot-com era while cautioning about deepfakes and AI-generated scams. Newmark emphasizes practical cybersecurity measures individuals can adopt, urges tech companies to proactively share scam signals, and reflects on fostering trust online. His overarching mission? To ensure the internet remains safe, useful, and trustworthy for all.
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AI Bubble Risks Are Real
- Craig Newmark says an AI bubble exists because unresolved issues like hallucinations and deepfakes can cause real harm.
- He warns these failures could enable scams and breach cyber defenses if not addressed.
Pause And Do Basic Cyber Hygiene
- Pause for about nine seconds when approached online to reduce falling for scams and reflect on the situation.
- Use security basics like single sign-on, passkeys, multi-factor authentication, and system updates to stay safer.
Early Internet Abuse Shaped His Work
- Craig Newmark recounts seeing internet abuse from the very beginning during over 30 years of involvement with the web.
- He emphasizes most users are good but bad actors are loud and require collective efforts to fight.