Following its announcement at Google I/O 2024, Google is rolling out a new Scam Detection feature for the Pixel Phone app. Currently in beta for U.S. users, the feature leverages AI to help protect users from scam calls by analyzing incoming call audio. While the feature is initially available only for Pixel 6 and later models, Google has promised future availability for other Android devices.
The Scam Detection tool uses onboard AI to analyze the content of calls in real-time. If the system detects a potentially fraudulent call, such as one claiming to be from a bank with an urgent request to transfer funds, it will alert the user. The alert includes visual warnings along with audio and haptic feedback. Google explains that the AI will assess whether the call is likely spam and notify the user accordingly.
One of the key privacy assurances is that all processing happens locally on the device, with no data sent to the cloud. Newer Pixel models, including the Pixel 9, use Google’s Gemini Nano AI, while older devices rely on other advanced on-device machine learning models.
With the rise of generative AI, scammers have increasingly used the technology to enhance their schemes. In response, Google has integrated AI into its security features, offering a technological defense against these growing threats. Scam Detection is an extension of existing features like Call Screen, which uses a bot to screen calls before users pick up.
For now, Scam Detection is not activated by default. Users need to manually enable it in the app’s settings (accessible via the three-dot menu in the top right corner). Google is also gathering feedback from early adopters to refine the feature before a broader release.
