AI and the shadow market: how deepfakes and rogue bots are exploiting the internet

Artificial intelligence isn’t just revolutionizing business and daily life — it’s quietly fueling a shadow market of deception and exploitation. Deepfakes, rogue chatbots, and AI-generated scams are proliferating online, creating a new frontier for criminals and manipulators.

Deepfake technology, once the stuff of experimental labs, is now accessible to anyone with a modest computer and an internet connection. From celebrity impersonations to political disinformation, the tools are increasingly sophisticated and alarmingly realistic. Experts warn that this technology can be weaponized to manipulate elections, commit fraud, or ruin reputations.

Meanwhile, rogue AI chatbots are multiplying across the web, often masquerading as customer service agents, investment advisors, or even mental health counselors. In reality, many of these bots are programmed to steal personal information, manipulate users into making payments, or amplify misinformation. Unlike traditional malware, these AI-powered scams are adaptive — learning from user behavior to maximize deception.

The financial scale of this shadow market is staggering. Analysts estimate that millions of dollars are changing hands through AI-enabled fraud annually, much of it going unreported as victims are often embarrassed or unaware of the true source. Some deepfake scams have even targeted corporate executives, convincing them to transfer large sums of money to fraudsters’ accounts.

Governments and tech companies are scrambling to respond. Social media platforms are developing detection algorithms, while regulators debate how to hold creators accountable without stifling innovation. But with AI tools spreading faster than safeguards, enforcement often feels a step behind the criminals themselves.

Experts warn that this is only the beginning. “Every new AI model can be exploited,” says cybersecurity analyst Dr. Amal Rizvi. “The same algorithms designed to enhance productivity or creativity can be turned into weapons of deception overnight.”

As AI becomes ever more integrated into daily life, the public faces a stark reality: the technology that powers innovation can also power exploitation. Without robust regulation, awareness campaigns, and proactive cybersecurity measures, the shadow market of AI is likely to grow — quietly, invisibly, and dangerously.