UK Telecom Launches AI Grandma to Waste Scammers' Time

In a creative move to fight scam calls, UK telecom company O2 has introduced an AI-powered "grandmother" named Daisy. Far from being the typical sweet, cookie-baking grandma, Daisy is a highly sophisticated AI designed to waste scammers’ time and thwart their malicious efforts. With a mission to protect innocent people from fraud, Daisy engages scammers in lengthy conversations, discussing everything from imaginary knitting projects to fake family drama, keeping them occupied for extended periods.

Part of O2’s “Swerve the Scammers” Campaign

Daisy is a key player in O2’s “Swerve the Scammers” campaign, which aims to combat the growing problem of scam calls. As scams become increasingly sophisticated, O2 decided to fight back using technology, and Daisy was born. Unlike typical chatbots, Daisy is powered by advanced AI capable of holding human-like conversations. She can listen, process, and respond in real-time, making it nearly impossible for scammers to detect that they are talking to an AI.

Collaboration with Jim Browning to Enhance Daisy’s Capabilities

O2’s collaboration with Jim Browning, a well-known scambaiter from YouTube, helped enhance Daisy’s effectiveness. Jim’s expertise in scambaiting—tricking fraudsters into wasting their time—was instrumental in training Daisy to implement proven scambaiting tactics. With his input, Daisy can employ the best strategies to keep scammers engaged, leading them away from real victims.

Daisy’s Mission: Wasting Scammers’ Time and Protecting Victims

Research has shown that a large percentage of people want revenge on scammers but are unwilling to waste their own time doing so. Daisy addresses this gap, taking on the task of keeping fraudsters on the line for as long as possible. By occupying scammers for up to 40 minutes, Daisy prevents them from targeting other, more vulnerable victims. This disruption is not only frustrating for scammers but also reduces their ability to scam people effectively.

Daisy’s Role in Public Education and Awareness

Daisy isn’t just about wasting scammers’ time. She also plays an essential role in educating the public about scams. Reality TV star Amy Hart, who personally lost £5,000 to a scam, has teamed up with Daisy to raise awareness. Through their collaboration, they have exposed common scam tactics, showing people how to identify and avoid fraudulent calls and messages. This educational effort is critical in helping individuals protect themselves from scams.

O2’s Wider Anti-Scam Initiatives

In addition to Daisy, O2 has been actively blocking millions of scam calls and texts each month. The company encourages people to report suspicious messages by forwarding them to 7726, a free service for reporting scams. O2 has also called for larger structural changes in the fight against scams, advocating for a dedicated fraud minister and a national task force to address the issue on a broader scale.

Daisy’s Impact: A Powerful Reminder

Daisy’s initiative is a powerful reminder that scams can happen to anyone, but they don’t have to succeed. With the right tools, awareness, and strategies, fraud can be mitigated and stopped. If you receive a suspicious call, the best course of action is to hang up, report the scam, and let Daisy take over. With her endless patience, scammers are no match for her, and the AI grandmother is always ready to waste their time and protect innocent victims.