In an innovative stride to combat fraud, computer scientists have developed an AI bot named Daisy, a digital persona designed to thwart scammers. Daisy, portrayed as a 78-year-old grandmother, was created to engage fraudsters in lengthy conversations, effectively wasting their time. Launched briefly by O2 to spotlight AI-powered anti-fraud solutions, Daisy employs tactics from real scam calls to simulate the demeanor of a confused elderly person. A collaboration with Jim Browning, a well-known "scam baiter," has ensured that Daisy can convincingly mimic human interactions.
Daisy's design allows her to be transferred between multiple callers, making it challenging for scammers to discern they are speaking with a bot. In one notable instance, Daisy was passed between four different scammers. Often, these fraudsters attempt to seize control of Daisy's computer under the pretense that it is infested with viruses. Despite these claims, Daisy skillfully maintains the conversation, exhibiting uncertainty and innocuousness.
"I wouldn't want to bother anyone. I'm just trying to have a little chat." – Daisy
O2's initiative with Daisy aimed to educate the public on the potential of AI in safeguarding against fraud. By planting phone numbers on websites frequented by scammers, Daisy became an accessible target for these criminals, who unwittingly found themselves ensnared in her intricate web. As Simon Valcarcel highlighted, "It knows exactly the tactics to look out for, exactly the type of information to give to keep the scammers online and waste time."
The bot's ability to mimic various personas and accents further enhances its effectiveness. Future iterations of Daisy could feature an even broader range of accents and personas, making her an even more formidable opponent for scammers.
"I see a triangle icon, but I'm not sure if it's the right one. It could be a slice of pie. You know, my eyesight isn't what it used to be. Let me just squint at it." – Daisy
This project underscores the growing role of artificial intelligence in combating fraud across industries, as noted by Serpil Hall at Celebrus. By keeping scammers engaged for up to 40 minutes at a time, Daisy diverts their attention away from potential victims.
"If you are wasting our time, ma'am, you are going to lose your money because someone is trying to take your money and we are trying to upgrade your security" – Scammer
Daisy has proven to be an effective tool in the fight against scam calls. Her ability to mirror the behavior of a bewildered senior citizen causes scammers to expend valuable time and resources. By collaborating with experts like Jim Browning, the creators of Daisy have successfully leveraged AI technology to protect individuals from fraudulent schemes.