Telecom provider Vodafone Idea (Vi) has rolled out a new AI-driven solution to detect and flag spam messages for its users, enhancing mobile security and improving the user experience.
In a statement released on Monday, Vi shared that the innovative AI and machine learning (ML) solution proactively identifies potential spam messages and flags them for users. Since the solution's initial testing phase, over 24 million spam messages have already been flagged.
With the increasing rise of spam messages, which are often linked to fraudulent activities, Vi's new "Spam SMS solution" is designed to protect its customers by automatically detecting unsolicited and potentially harmful messages in real time. The service is activated automatically, requiring no setup, app installation, or payment from users.
Vi's competitors, Bharti Airtel and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), have also launched similar services recently to address the growing issue of spam messages and calls that have impacted users' mobile experiences.
Jagbir Singh, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Vi, emphasized the importance of addressing the growing threat posed by SMS-based spam and scams. "As more customers embrace digital communication, we recognize the growing threat posed by SMS-based spams and potential scam attempts. Our AI-powered spam detection technology reinforces our commitment to customer safety by delivering proactive, real-time protection," Singh said. He added that Vi remains focused on staying ahead of these threats and providing users with tools to ensure a safer mobile experience.
Vi also stated that it is continuously developing further solutions to protect users from spam, including those targeting voice calls. In addition to this new AI solution, the company has introduced several existing measures, such as simplifying the mobile app for filing spam complaints and enabling automatic capture of spam content (SMS), sender numbers, and dates.
The company’s AI algorithms are trained on millions of SMS samples, which help identify potential threats like fraudulent links, unauthorized promotions, and identity theft attempts. The predictive AI systems learn over time from incoming data patterns, enhancing their ability to detect phishing links and suspicious sender details.
The new system employs cutting-edge AI technology to automatically detect and flag potential threats in real time. This proactive approach helps protect customers from spam, fraudulent links, and identity theft attempts. In addition to its AI-powered spam solution, Vi has implemented various tools to further improve customer experience and safety:
Simplified Spam Reporting: Vi’s mobile app makes reporting spam messages easy by automatically capturing key information such as the content of the message, sender details, and the date it was received.
Whitelisting Trusted Brands: To ensure legitimate communications aren’t blocked, URLs from verified brands are whitelisted, preventing accidental filtering of important messages.
UCC Detection: Vi monitors call patterns to identify and limit bulk calls, reducing the risk of spam and nuisance calls.
Customer Education: Regular campaigns help users recognize phishing attempts, report spam, and exercise caution when interacting with unknown sources.
The AI-driven spam solution uses advanced features to protect customers from harmful content:
This move comes shortly after Bharti Airtel launched its own AI-powered solution in September, which processes trillions of records in real time and is able to predict over 99% of spam messages and 97% of spam calls.
