The Rise of Deepfakes: Can We Still Trust What We See and Hear?

In this episode of Inside the Silicon Mind, Ross Lazerowitz, Co-founder and CEO of Mirage Security, explores how AI is reshaping cybersecurity, identity, and trust. From deepfakes to social engineering, Ross reveals how attackers are weaponizing generative AI - and what it will take to defend against the next wave of deception. He also opens up about the emotional realities of founder life: navigating fundraising pressure, managing uncertainty, and staying grounded in a saturated market. The conversation dives into founder-market fit, first-principles engineering, and how to build credibility and trust in a fast-moving tech landscape. It’s a candid look at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship, and what it means to lead with conviction in an era where reality itself can be faked.   Episode Highlights: 00:00 The Journey of Entrepreneurship 05:34 AI and Social Engineering Threats 10:44 The Role of Identity Verification in Cybersecurity 17:43 The Emotional Toll of Fundraising 22:38 Timing and Market Saturation in Startups 24:40 Building Trust in Cybersecurity 27:06 Founder-Market Fit and Product Validation 30:32 Navigating Fundraising Challenges 32:16 AI's Impact on Hiring and Engineering 34:30 Understanding First Principles in Engineering 39:10 The Debate on Remote vs. In-Person Work 40:19 Addressing the Deepfake Challenge 43:12 The Future of AI and Its Societal Implications 45:20 Maintaining Wellbeing as a Founder 47:09 Recommended Reads for Founders   Book Recommendations: Let's Get Real or Let's Not Play, by Mahan Khalsa   Follow Ross on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosslazer   ------------------------------------- Inside The Silicon Mind -------------------------------------   Podcast Links: Spotify: https://bit.ly/spotify-itsm Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/apple-itsm Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/amazon-itsm   Social Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/firassozan/   Website Links: https://insidethesiliconmind.com/ https://www.harrisonclarke.com/ https://www.harrisonclarkeventures.com/ https://thepmfplaybook.com/