Virgin Media O2’s AI Granny ‘Daisy’ Infuriates Phone Scammers in Demo VideoÂ
Published on November 18, 2024
- Virgin Media O2 created a human-like AI granny called Daisy to answer calls from fraudsters in real time.
- The aim is to keep scammers on the phone and away from customers for as long as possible.
- Yet, U.K.-based people are urged to remain vigilant and report suspected fraudulent calls.
U.K.-based mobile operator Virgin Media O2 has launched Daisy in a pioneering move within the telecommunications industry. The innovative AI-powered chatbot is designed to thwart phone scammers by keeping them engaged in fruitless conversations.
The AI, modeled to sound like an elderly woman, answers calls to specific numbers set up by Virgin Media O2. Daisy utilizes advanced AI technologies and multiple AI models, making her voice indistinguishable from that of a real person. The entire interaction occurs in real time, requiring no further human intervention.Â
A recently released demo video showcases Daisy in action. In one instance, she feigns confusion about web addresses and eventually diverts into a long-winded story, prompting a frustrated scammer to exclaim, "I think your profession is bothering people."
During the call, the AI transcribes the scammer's words into text, which is then processed through a custom large language model. This model, enhanced with a character personality layer, generates Daisy's responses. These responses are then converted into speech through a specialized AI text-to-speech engine.
The chatbot engages scammers with tangential stories about personal hobbies, feigned technological ignorance, or incorrect banking information, effectively wasting their time and preventing them from reaching real victims.
Virgin Media O2 enlisted the expertise of renowned YouTube scam investigators like Jim Browning to help train the AI, ensuring that Daisy's dialogue is both authentic and effective at holding scammers' attention.
Meanwhile, people in the U.K. are urged to report suspected fraudulent calls and texts for free to 7726 as the U.K. faces a fraud epidemic.
This initiative represents a significant leap forward in leveraging artificial intelligence to protect consumers from fraudulent activities and highlights the growing importance of AI in cybersecurity and consumer protection.Â
By deploying AI-driven solutions like Daisy, companies can significantly reduce the threat posed by scammers, protect vulnerable populations, and improve overall customer trust. Furthermore, initiatives such as this underscore the potential for AI technologies to be adapted across various industries to combat fraudulent activities and enhance security protocols.Â
For professionals in the field, the emergence of AI solutions like Daisy represents an exciting frontier in the ongoing battle against cybercrime, offering innovative strategies to mitigate risks and protect end-users.
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