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Google Adds New Android Protections To Mitigate Scam Calls And Malware Threats
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Google launched Scam Detection and live malware alerts on Pixel phones.
- Scam Detection identifies suspicious calls with on-device AI, alerting users in real-time.
- Google Play Protect now provides real-time malware alerts for harmful apps.
Google has introduced new safety features for Android devices, aiming to enhance user protection against scam calls and malware with a focus on data privacy.
The updates include Scam Detection within the Google Phone app and real-time alerts through Google Play Protect. Initially, these features will be available on Pixel devices, with plans for a wider release across more Android phones in the coming months.
Scam Detection is Google’s latest response to increasingly sophisticated phone scams, which account for substantial global financial losses .
The feature relies on Gemini Nano , an on-device AI model, to analyze call patterns commonly associated with fraud, such as urgent requests to transfer funds.
If a suspicious call is detected, Scam Detection issues real-time audio and visual warnings, allowing users to assess whether to proceed with the call. This functionality operates entirely on the device, ensuring that no audio data is stored or shared with Google or external servers.
Scam Detection is disabled by default, giving users control over its activation. The feature is available to English-speaking users in the United States enrolled in the Phone by Google public beta on Pixel 6 or newer models.
Alongside Scam Detection, Google has expanded its Google Play Protect service to include real-time alerts for potential malware and unsafe applications.
This enhancement allows Google Play Protect to analyze behavioral signals, such as the use of sensitive permissions and unusual interactions with other apps, to detect malicious software that may attempt to evade detection.
Currently, Google Play Protect’s live threat detection is focused on identifying stalkerware—software that can collect personal or sensitive data without the user’s consent—and may expand to address other types of harmful apps in the future.
Both Scam Detection and live threat detection are designed to operate within Google’s Private Compute Core, ensuring that data analysis happens entirely on-device to prioritize user privacy. These protections are currently available on Pixel 6+ devices, with plans to extend them to additional Android devices soon.
Image by Focal Foto, from Flickr
OpenAI To Launch Autonomous Agent ‘Operator’ in January
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Operator will perform tasks like coding and booking travel for users.
- The tool will be accessible as a research preview and via OpenAI’s API.
- Similar agents are being developed by Anthropic, Microsoft, and Google.
OpenAI is planning to release a new artificial intelligence tool called “Operator” in January, as first reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday.
This tool is designed to act on behalf of users, taking actions such as writing code or booking travel. According to two people familiar with the project, Operator will initially launch as a research preview and be available through OpenAI’s API for developers, said Bloomberg.
The introduction of Operator comes as part of a broader trend in AI development focused on “agents”—software designed to handle complex tasks with minimal human input, noted Bloomberg.
For example, Anthropic recently launched an agent that can monitor a user’s computer activity in real time and take action as needed.
Microsoft also released a set of AI tools that manage tasks like email and records for businesses. Google is said to be working on a similar AI agent, according to industry sources.
Sources say that OpenAI has several agent-related projects in the works, with Operator being the first to reach the final stages. This tool is expected to be capable of performing a range of tasks directly in a web browser, making it versatile and accessible, says Bloomberg.
CEO Sam Altman recently hinted at the shift toward these agentic tools during a Reddit AMA session.
He suggested that while AI models will continue to improve, agents—AI tools that can handle real-world tasks autonomously—might represent the “next giant breakthrough” in the field, as reported by Bloomberg.
This move to agentic AI also comes as companies like OpenAI are feeling the strain of developing increasingly advanced AI models, with returns starting to level off, noted Bloomberg.
The industry is now exploring agents as a potential way to bring new functionality without the high costs of advancing traditional models.
