Durham, N.C. – In response to a sharp rise in AI‑related internet crimes that cost North Carolinians $15.6 million in 2025, a local nonprofit is taking action. Digital Durham, working with the City of Durham, held its first “Digital Empowerment Day” on Saturday, a community‑focused event designed to boost confidence in using artificial intelligence while highlighting the growing risks of rapidly evolving technology.
Building knowledge and confidence
“Our message is really about being informed and not sticking your head in the sand and saying, ‘No, AI is a scary thing,’” said Laura Fogle, founder of Digital Durham. The day featured hands‑on workshops for participants of all ages and skill levels, ranging from basic introductions to AI tools for seniors to more technical sessions on cybersecurity for adults.
Family‑focused learning
One attendee, Kim Bynum, explained her motivation: she wants to help keep her senior mother up to speed with technology. “She knows how to interact, open it, do things, but she’s also like, you know, something on her phone, it could be, and she’d be like, ‘Well, this thing keeps popping up. Hey, don’t touch that,’” Bynum said.
Expert insight on protecting against AI threats
The event’s keynote speaker, cybersecurity veteran Kae David, brought more than a decade of experience to the stage. She told WRAL that once people understand how the technology works—machines that can think like humans and imitate their actions—they can ask the right questions to protect themselves and contribute to the broader conversation about safe AI use.
“You start to have the right questions to ask to continue to protect yourself, and then you get to also contribute to the conversation,” David explained.
Why the effort matters
The Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that AI‑related internet crimes surged in 2025, underscoring the need for community education. By offering free, accessible training, Digital Durham aims to reduce the financial and personal harm caused by scams, deep‑fake fraud, and other AI‑driven threats.
Looking ahead
Organizers plan to make Digital Empowerment Day an annual fixture, expanding the curriculum to include topics such as responsible AI use in schools, safe online banking practices, and how families can set up digital safeguards at home. The partnership with the City of Durham ensures that resources will continue to be available to residents across the city, reinforcing the nonprofit’s mission to empower every citizen with the knowledge needed to navigate the digital age safely.
For more information about upcoming workshops or to volunteer, visit Digital Durham’s website or contact the organization directly.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
