Google is strengthening its defenses against scammers targeting Pixel users with new AI-powered scam detection features arriving in March for the Phone by Google and Google Messages apps. These enhancements leverage the power of on-device AI to proactively identify and protect users from potential fraud.
These new features analyze conversation patterns in real-time to identify suspicious activity commonly associated with scams. For example, if a caller claiming to be a bank representative urgently requests fund transfers, gift card payments, or personal information like PINs and passwords, the system will flag the call.
In the Phone by Google app, users will receive an immediate alert stating “Suspicious activity detected for this call.” They can then choose to “End call” or dismiss the alert if they believe it’s a legitimate call.
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Similarly, in Google Messages, the scam detection feature will proactively identify potentially fraudulent text messages. These often include messages about package deliveries or enticing job offers that may seem harmless but are designed to extract sensitive information or lure users into scams. Suspicious text messages will be automatically moved to the “Spam & blocked” folder.
This functionality aims to protect users from a wide range of text message scams, offering an additional layer of security against increasingly sophisticated fraudulent activities.
These features were initially introduced in beta for both the Phone by Google app in November and Google Messages in October. The official rollout is expected as part of the March Pixel Feature Drop.
The new scam detection features utilize Google’s Gemini Nano AI model on the Pixel 9 series. For Pixel 6, Pixel 7, and Pixel 8 devices, other Google machine learning models provide similar protection.
Gemini Nano, launched in late 2023, is Google’s dedicated AI model for mobile devices. It empowers on-device processing for complex tasks, enhancing privacy and responsiveness. This model excels in text processing, offering smart replies, summarization, and improved grammar correction. Crucially, it also enables real-time, on-device scam detection during phone calls.
A key strength of Gemini Nano is its multimodal capabilities, allowing it to process various data types, including images and sounds. This advanced functionality is integrated into the Pixel 9 series, powered by the Google Tensor G4 chip. By processing data locally, Gemini Nano minimizes latency and safeguards sensitive user data.
These updates represent Google’s ongoing commitment to enhancing user security and leveraging AI to combat increasingly sophisticated scam tactics. The March Pixel Feature Drop promises increased peace of mind for Pixel users.
