Microsoft is using AI to help block more scam calls

News
By published

Spam and scam calls are no match for AI

Phone scam
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Microsoft is introducing AI to the telecommunications industry to help protect people from spam and scams.

Announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, Azure Operator Call Protection is now available on public preview.

Latest Videos From

AI call monitoring

Azure Operator Protection uses real-time analysis of phone calls to determine if the content is suspicious, and then provides an alert to the call handler if they are at risk of being scammed. In the UK, BT Group is trialing the product to help protect its customers, particularly those who are more vulnerable to scams.

Scam calls cost businesses and individuals billions of dollars per year, with the FTC estimating that the total cost of such calls in the US amounted to $850 million in 2023 alone.

Spam and scam calls are expected to become more prevalent in the run up to a number of important elections around the world, with a recent example featuring a spoof of President Biden, telling New Hampshire constituents not to vote in a state election.

A number of top tech and social media companies have recently signed a voluntary agreement to identify, label, and combat deepfakes that could be used for political interference or to mislead voters.

More from TechRadar Pro

Benedict Collins
Benedict Collins
Senior Writer, Security

Benedict is a Senior Security Writer at TechRadar Pro, where he has specialized in covering the intersection of geopolitics, cyber-warfare, and business security.

Benedict provides detailed analysis on state-sponsored threat actors, APT groups, and the protection of critical national infrastructure, with his reporting bridging the gap between technical threat intelligence and B2B security strategy.

Benedict holds an MA (Distinction) in Security, Intelligence, and Diplomacy from the University of Buckingham Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (BUCSIS), with his specialization providing him with a robust academic framework for deconstructing complex international conflicts and intelligence operations, and the ability to translate intricate security data into actionable insights.