AI Summary
5 min readWhen Clark Howard’s own face and voice appeared in a social media ad pitching a cheap insurance product, the reaction was immediate—and furious. People were angry at him, thinking he had sold out. But Clark hadn’t recorded that ad. It was a deepfake, created with AI, and Facebook refused to take it down, saying it met their standards. That moment captures the central tension of this episode: we are entering an era where seeing is no longer believing, and the same technology that makes life more convenient is also making it much easier to get ripped off.
Auto Insurers Are Denying Claims at Record Rates
The most urgent warning Clark delivers is about a dramatic shift in the auto insurance industry. Insurers are now refusing to pay on just under half of all auto claims—a stunning increase in denial rates across the board. While the industry points to a rise in illegitimate bodily injury claims, the practical effect is that ordinary policyholders are having trouble getting paid for all kinds of things.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:01) **Auto Insurance: Cracking Down on Unlisted Drivers** - Clark warns that insurers are refusing to pay nearly half of all auto claims, and one major trigger is letting someone not named on your policy drive your car.
- 2 (06:08) **Listener Q: Self-Driving Cars & Robots for Retirement** - Jeff from South Carolina asks about the timeline for affordable self-driving cars and household robots to plan his retirement in 7-8 years.
- 3 (09:01) **Listener Q: Best Method for Credit Card Consolidation** - A listener asks about the best method for consolidating credit card debt.
- 4 (11:07) **Listener Q: Financial Planning with Young-Onset Parkinson's** - An anonymous 39-year-old electrician in Indiana with a recent Parkinson's diagnosis asks for financial and career advice.
- 5 (15:17) **Social Media Scam Ads: The AI Clark Howard** - Clark addresses the proliferation of AI-generated scam ads on social media, including a fake ad using his likeness to pitch a bogus insurance product.
- 6 (22:55) **Listener Q: Clear Plus vs. TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry** - Mark in Nevada asks about the differences between Clear Plus, TSA PreCheck, and Clear with TSA PreCheck, and which is best.
- 7 (27:45) **Listener Q: Best Roth IRA for an 18-Year-Old** - Mara in Ohio asks which account is best for an 18-year-old to invest in a Roth IRA.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Clark drops an urgent warning for vehicle owners regarding a massive spike in auto insurance claim denials. If you let a friend, colleague, or extended family member borrow your vehicle to run a quick errand, you could be setting yourself up for financial disaster.
Also, a sleazy car insurance tool has made an AI video of Clark endorsing its product. This is happening all over social media. Clark tackles the explosion of sophisticated AI-generated scams plaguing social media platforms like Facebook. From deepfake videos using Clark’s own voice and image to pitch bogus insurance products, to fake ads offering unbelievable discounts on luxury goods, scammers are leveraging advanced technology to trick you out of your hard-earned money. Clark shares how you can protect your wallet, spot counterfeit deals, and why you need to adopt a healthy sense of skepticism—not cynicism—whenever you see trusted public figures or targeted ads popping up in your feed.
Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the September 16, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your questions: Ask Clark.
- Who Gets To Drive: Segment 1
- Ask Clark: Segment 2
- AI Targeted Scam Ads: Segment 3
- Ask Clark: Segment 4
Mentioned on the show:
Credit Card Debt Consolidation: 3 Paths To Consider, 2 To Avoid
Simple Trick To Pay Down Credit Card Debt Quicker - Clark Howard
Modern Scams are Getting Harder to Spot. Here's What to Do
TSA PreCheck® vs. Global Entry vs. CLEAR+: Which Is Best for You?
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