Protecting Our Kids in the Age of AI With Former DOJ Prosecutor Tiffany Preston

EPISODE DESCRIPTIONTiffany Preston spent 19 years putting away the kind of people most of us never want to think about. As a federal prosecutor she convicted Buster Hernandez, the "Brian Kil" sextortionist who threatened at least 375 kids and drew a 75-year sentence. So when she talks about how AI is changing crimes against children, it lands differently.She and Jason get into the part that should worry every parent. Generative AI has made it nearly impossible to prove whether an explicit image is real, and predators are weaponizing that against kids who never did anything. A kid gets a message: a video of you exists, pay up or it goes to everyone you know, and good luck proving it is fake.Her advice is specific and hard-won. Back away from the phone. Do not respond, because engaging is what the predator wants. Get law enforcement involved, and tell your kid you will love them even if they made a mistake, because shame is the weapon. They also cover the family safe word that beats AI voice-cloning scams, the Character.AI case, The Anxious Generation, and why you cannot out-tech your own children.CONTENT NOTEThis episode discusses online child exploitation, sextortion, and suicide. If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988.ABOUT THE GUESTTiffany Preston spent 19 years as a federal prosecutor, most of them as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Indiana, where she specialized in internet crimes against children and served as the district's Project Safe Childhood, Human Trafficking, and Kidnapping Coordinator. She prosecuted Buster Hernandez, the "Brian Kil" mass sextortionist sentenced to 75 years in federal prison for crimes against at least 375 minors. She left the DOJ in December 2025 and is now a Litigation Senior Attorney at Cook Medical in Bloomington, Indiana. She speaks regularly to parents and schools about keeping kids safe online.GUEST LINKSCook Medical: https://www.cookmedical.com/TIME STAMPS00:00 - 19 years prosecuting crimes against children25:58 - Why generative AI images are breaking child exploitation cases28:35 - The family friend who used AI to target a child he knew33:10 - Back away from the phone, and the "be boring" rule39:00 - I love you and I'll help you even if you made a mistake44:44 - The family safe word that beats AI voice cloning47:41 - The Anxious Generation and social media built like a slot machine52:03 - You cannot out-tech your kids57:06 - The Character.AI case and AI toys headed for kids' rooms1:04:12 - Is superintelligence around the cornerCONNECT WITH JASON PADGETTDirector of Growth and Partnerships at CitizenAI📧 [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/X: https://x.com/NoCodeCAIONewsletter (No Code CAIO): https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7399599285849346048Available for interviews and keynotes on AI in education → [email protected] PODCAST NETWORKSchool's Out Saturdays: https://schoolsout.agipodcast.ai/Field Notes newsletter: https://schoolsout.agipodcast.ai/field-notesIndiana AI education events: https://schoolsout.agipodcast.ai/eventsAll AGI Podcast shows: https://schoolsout.agipodcast.ai/networkTOOLS JASON RECOMMENDSMindStudio → https://get.mindstudio.ai/q7n7u5cttkdqRiverside.fm → https://riverside.sjv.io/e1xyBrWispr Flow → https://ref.wisprflow.ai/jason-padgettRESOURCES MENTIONEDThe Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/Buster Hernandez "Brian Kil" DOJ case: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/child-predator-and-cyberterrorist-buster-hernandez-aka-briankil-sentenced-75-yearsGarcia v. Character Technologies (Character.AI wrongful death case)Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force: https://www.in.gov/isp/icactf/NCMEC CyberTipline: https://report.cybertip.org/FBI tips: https://tips.fbi.gov/