#328 Kevin Tian: Exploring Doppel's AI-Native Social Engineering Defense Platform
AI is changing more than just productivity. It's changing what we can trust. In this episode, Kevin Tian, Co-founder and CEO of Doppel, breaks down how AI is enabling a new wave of social engineering attacks—from deepfake phone calls to impersonation across LinkedIn, YouTube, and search engines. The reality is this:Deepfakes are just one part of a much bigger problem.
Attackers are now operating across multiple channels at once, using AI to manipulate people, not just systems. And as these attacks scale, the real risk isn't just fraud or data loss—it's the erosion of trust in everything we see online. Kevin explains how Doppel is building an AI-native defense platform to detect, map, and shut down these attacks in real time, and why the future of cybersecurity will be defined by AI vs AI. If you're thinking about AI, security, or the future of trust online—this conversation is essential.
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(00:00) AI Deepfakes & The Collapse of Trust (01:56) Why "Social Engineering" Is Bigger Than Phishing(05:20) Deepfakes, Misinformation & Multi-Channel Attacks(09:16) The Rise of Deepfake Phone Calls(12:43) How Attackers Manipulate AI & Search Results(14:39) The Origin Story Behind Doppel(18:55) How Doppel Detects & Stops Attacks in Real Time(22:55) Can Attackers Misuse AI Defense Tools?(24:26) How to Tell What's Real vs Fake Online(28:20) What Is Human Risk Management?(30:36) AI vs AI: The Future of Cyber Defense(34:04) What CEOs Must Do About AI Threats(37:18) Working with Platforms Like YouTube & LinkedIn(39:52) Can We Ever Fully Stop Deepfakes?(44:40) How Doppel Works for Enterprises
Cybersecurity's Past, Present, and AI-Driven Future
Is it time to hand over cybersecurity to machines amidst the exponential rise in cyber threats and breaches?
We trace the evolution of cybersecurity from minimal measures in 1995 to today's overwhelmed DevSecOps. Travis McPeak, CEO and Co-founder of Resourcely, kicks off our discussion by discussing the historical shifts in the industry. Kevin Tian, CEO and Founder of Doppel, highlights the rise of AI-driven threats and deepfake campaigns. Feross Aboukhadijeh, CEO and Founder of Socket, provides insights into sophisticated attacks like the XZ Utils incident. Andrej Safundzic, CEO and Founder of Lumos, discusses the future of autonomous security systems and their impact on startups.
Recorded at a16z's Campfire Sessions, these top security experts share the real challenges they face and emphasize the need for a new approach.
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Find Andrej Safundzic on Twitter: https://x.com/andrejsafundzic
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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
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