In this first episode of a two part series, we explore the evolving intersection of AI and cybersecurity, beginning with the ways AI and social engineering are increasingly influencing elections and online discourse. We discuss the powerful role that bots and autonomous agents play in amplifying polarization and manipulating public opinion, often through subtle tactics that exploit emotional responses. We also dive into social engineering techniques and how they can be combined with AI to create convincing digital personas or deepfakes, raising concerns about the ease of accessing private information or bypassing security. Ultimately, this part raises awareness of the potential risks posed by autonomous AI systems and sets the stage for a discussion on cybersecurity defenses in the next episode.