Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/15/o2_ai_granny/
Source: The Register
Title: O2’s AI granny knits tall tales to waste scam callers’ time
Feedly Summary: Brit mobile network’s Daisy has time, patience, and plenty of yarns to spin
Watch out, scammers. O2 has created a new weapon in the fight against fraud: an AI granny that will keep you talking until you get bored and give up.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: O2 has introduced an innovative AI solution, dubbed “Daisy,” designed to engage and frustrate phone scammers by simulating human-like conversations. This strategic use of AI represents a significant move in the realm of combating fraud, showcasing both technological advancement and an ethical application aimed at protecting vulnerable individuals.
Detailed Description: The text focuses on O2’s development of an AI system intended to combat phone fraud by engaging scammers in extended conversations. Key points include:
– **Introduction of “Daisy”:** An AI entity that mimics human conversation to keep fraudsters occupied.
– **Technology Used:** Daisy employs a combination of AI models, including a custom large language model (LLM) for generating contextually appropriate responses and a text-to-speech model for verbal communication.
– **Operational Strategy:**
– Designed to engage in lengthy discussions, often lasting up to 40 minutes, frustrating scammers.
– Uses pretense communication, such as sharing fictitious bank information, to mislead fraudsters.
– The AI was developed with guidance from experienced “scambaiters,” leveraging tactics like “number seeding” to make Daisy’s number accessible to scammers.
– Although it does not stop scam calls directly, it helps gather intelligence on scam tactics and protects potential victims by distracting scammers.
– **Impact on Fraud Prevention:**
– By engaging in time-consuming conversations with fraudsters, Daisy indirectly prevents scams on real targets.
– O2 commits resources to combat fraud through various technologies, including anti-fraud systems and spam detection efforts.
In summary, the development of Daisy by O2 is a novel use of AI technology in the fight against fraud, demonstrating how AI can be effectively and ethically deployed to safeguard individuals from malicious activities. This initiative highlights a potential best practice for security professionals who are looking at integrating AI into their fraud detection and prevention strategies.