Meet Daisy, the ‘AI granny’ taking on telephone scammers

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Category: Technology/Innovations

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. outsmart / ˌaʊtˈsmɑrt / (v.) – to think of a clever or smart way to defeat or trick someone
    Example:

    He tried to outsmart his competitors by learning all their strategies before the game.


  2. (be) tied up / taɪd ʌp / (idiom) – to be busy with something, especially when someone can't do other things because he/she is focusing on that one task
    Example:

    I tried calling Mark, but he was tied up in a conference call and couldn’t speak.


  3. tactic / ˈtæk tɪk / (n.) – a specific way or method used to achieve a goal or solve a problem, especially in difficult situations
    Example:

    The company’s marketing tactics helped them reach more customers by using social media ads to attract younger buyers.


  4. refine / rɪˈfaɪn / (v.) – to make something better or more effective by making small changes or corrections
    Example:

    After receiving feedback, the team worked to refine their marketing strategy.


  5. back down / bæk daʊn / (phrasal v.) – to stop fighting and admit being wrong or defeated
    Example:

    During the debate, Maria refused to change her ideas, saying she had no intention of backing down.


Article

Read the text below.

‘AI granny’ Daisy is the latest weapon in the fight against phone scammers.


This AI-powered bot, developed by UK telecom company Virgin Media O2, is designed to outsmart fraudsters by keeping them tied up in conversation for hours. Daisy is the latest tool in the world of scam-baiting, a strategy where scammers are kept on the line to waste their time.


Charity Age UK estimates a fifth of all over 50s in the UK fear answering their phones because of scams.


Simon Valcarcel, Marketing Director at Virgin Media O2, says, “The reason we used AI is because it doesn’t sleep, it doesn’t eat, you can use it 24 hours a day. It’s a great way to demonstrate the tactics scammers use to keep people on the line. And the best part? When it’s talking to AI, it’s not talking to real people and scamming them out of their hard-earned money.”


Behind ‘Daisy’ is a team of developers and creatives who built the AI coding and various models it uses to respond to scammers in real time.


As her creators continue to refine Daisy’s capabilities, there are plans for future scenarios, including new personalities and responses to different types of scams.


Colin Rigby, a researcher from Keele University says, despite it being unlikely, there is a possibility that sophisticated criminals could fight back against ‘Daisy,’ using just as complex AI technology.


Rigby says, “We need to consider the potential for an AI arms race where the people who are scamming and being baited, using AI to scam, and you end up with two AIs essentially learning about each other and at war with one another.”


Virgin Media O2 is optimistic that their strategy of using AI in this way is working.


The telecoms company has posted Daisy’s phone number on online forums known to be used by scammers. Since then, they say it’s taken over 1,000 calls and kept some people on the phone for over 40 minutes—with no intentions of backing down.


This article was provided by The Associated Press. 


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Daisy uses “scam-baiting,” or a strategy where scammers are kept on the line to waste their time, to take their information. Do you think scam-baiting is a good tactic to fight scams? Why or why not? Do you feel comfortable with companies using AI to collect data on scammers, or does this raise privacy concerns for you? Why? Discuss.
  • Daisy takes on the role of a loveable elderly lady. Why do you think Virgin Media O2 decided to use this personality? What advantages do you think this character has to successfully deal with scammers? Is there a more suitable personality you could think of? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Do you agree with the idea that AI could eventually be used by scammers to fight back against tools like Daisy? Why or why not? Do you think there could be a way to stop scammers permanently, or would they just continue to adapt to new solutions? Why? Discuss.
  • What would you do if you received a suspicious phone call? Does your country provide enough support, such as a hotline or a complaint center, for scam victims? How seriously do you think countries should treat scams? Discuss.