UK telecom provider O2 has introduced an AI-powered virtual grandmother named 'Daisy' to engage phone scammers in lengthy conversations, aiming to reduce their ability to target real victims.
O2 unveiled this initiative last week, revealing that they have embedded special phone numbers into lists commonly used by fraudsters. When scammers dial these numbers, they connect with 'Daisy,' who engages them in conversation, wasting their time.
In a promotional video, 'Daisy' humorously misunderstands a scammer's instructions to direct her to a website for personal information. Instead, she insists on small talk, much to the frustration of the scammers.
O2 markets 'Daisy' as a nightmare for online criminals, stating, 'While they talk to me, they can't scam you.' The AI can handle multiple calls simultaneously, providing users a way to report scam numbers through a dedicated hotline.
However, the effectiveness of 'Daisy' in preventing scams remains uncertain, as she only engages scammers after they have made a call. Future developments could see AI automatically intercepting scam calls before they reach potential victims.
Tech companies are increasingly utilizing AI to combat fraud. Google's Android phone app can already identify suspicious numbers, and the company has introduced a real-time scam detection feature that analyzes conversations for signs of fraud.
Apple also offers third-party apps for spam and scam protection on iPhones, while WhatsApp employs automated tools to identify and mute malicious calls. Furthermore, AI is being used to detect unusual transaction patterns in banking and recognize fraudulent intents in communications.
Despite advancements, fraudsters are also leveraging AI technologies, such as deepfake programs, to conduct scams, making the fight against cybercrime an ongoing challenge.