This week O2 introduced an unusual weapon against phone fraud – an AI system that keeps scammers talking in circles. Named Daisy, this automated time-waster poses as a chatty grandmother, engaging fraudsters in meandering conversations about knitting and family stories for up to 40 minutes at a stretch.
The system combines several AI models working together to hold natural conversations without human input. It transcribes incoming calls, generates contextual responses through a custom large language model, and delivers them via AI voice synthesis – all in real-time.
Trained with help from prominent scam-fighter Jim Browning, Daisy aims to protect vulnerable customers by occupying scammers’ time. The initiative comes as O2’s research shows 71% of Brits want payback against fraudsters, but don’t want to waste their own time doing it.
Takeaways: Beyond the practical benefits of keeping scammers occupied, Daisy showcases how far real-time conversational AI has advanced. It’s part of O2’s broader strategy combining AI security applications with advocacy for stronger government action on fraud, including calls for a dedicated minister.