Google introduced two new artificial intelligence (AI) security tools for Android devices on Wednesday. These tools aim to protect users from phone call-based scams and malicious apps by monitoring activity in real time. The first is Scam Detection in Phone by Google, which monitors conversation patterns to determine if an incoming call could be a scam. The second is Google Play Protect’s real-time alerts that monitor an app’s background activity after installation to detect malicious apps.
The tech giant detailed the two new security tools in its Security blog post. Both of these features are rolling out to Google Pixel 6 and newer models. The Scam Detection in Phone feature will initially be available only in the United States for those who have signed up for Google’s beta program. The call-based security tool will only work on English phone calls. Google Play Protect live alerts will also be available outside the US.
Phone scam detection by Google
Photo credit: Google
The scam detection feature is different from traditional caller ID apps and services that use phone numbers and track calling behavior to determine if a number is associated with scams. Instead, Google uses its on-device machine learning models to process the conversation pattern of a call in real time to determine whether an incoming call is a scam. On the Pixel 9 series, this will be done by Gemini Nano.
Highlighting an example, the tech giant said that if a caller claims to be from the user’s bank and asks them to transfer funds due to a breach, the AI model can process the audio information and use its database to confirm if similar conversation patterns were used. to scam people.
Once it determines that a call could be a potential scam, the AI will provide an audio and haptic alert and display a visual warning. Google stressed that the feature will remain disabled by default and users can either enable it for all calls from the Phone app settings or enable it for a particular call. The company claimed that no audio or conversation transcripts were stored on the device, sent to Google servers or elsewhere, or were retrievable after the call.
Google Play Protect Live Threat Detection Feature
The second feature is part of Google Play Protect, a security tool that monitors the Play Store for malicious and harmful apps. With the AI-based Live Threat Detection feature, Google’s AI models will monitor apps installed on eligible Android devices. If an app exhibits suspicious behavior or unnecessary interaction with other apps, the tool will issue a real-time warning alerting the user.
Google Play Protect Live Threat Detection
Photo credit: Google
Google claims that this AI tool will be able to detect apps that remain inactive for a certain period of time after installation to evade suspicion. Additionally, since users can detect harmful behavior in real-time, this will allow them to take timely action to prevent data theft. Notably, at launch, the tool will only focus on tracking software and malicious apps that collect personal or sensitive user data without authorization.
