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Google's AI unleashes powerful scam-busting features for Android

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Google's AI unleashes powerful scam-busting features for Android

Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leveraging advanced tools like generative AI to con unsuspecting victims. 

According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, mobile consumers worldwide lose over $1 trillion annually to scams. To combat this growing threat, Google is rolling out cutting-edge AI-powered scam detection features for Android users. 

However, while Google’s efforts are impressive, there are additional steps you can take to protect yourself from scams. Let’s dive into Google’s new features and explore how you can further safeguard your personal information.

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A man scrolling on his phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Google’s new AI-powered scam detection features

Google has introduced two innovative AI-powered scam detection features to protect Android users from increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Scam Detection in Google Messages

The first feature, Scam Detection in Google Messages, enhances the existing Spam Protection functionality. This new tool utilizes on-device AI to identify suspicious patterns in SMS, MMS and RCS messages. When a message appears suspicious, users receive a real-time warning with options to dismiss, report or block the sender.

To ensure privacy, all message processing occurs directly on the user’s device, keeping conversations confidential. The feature is enabled by default for non-contacts and can be verified or disabled via Google Messages → Settings → Spam Protection. It is currently available in English for users in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, with plans to expand to more countries soon.

Scam detection in Google Messages (Google)

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Scam Detection for phone calls

The second feature addresses the growing issue of phone scams, with over half of Americans reporting daily scam calls in 2024. Google’s Scam Detection for calls employs on-device AI models to analyze calls in real time. If a call is identified as a potential scam, users receive audio and visual warnings alerting them to the risk.

Activation requirements:

  • Pixel 9+ devices (U.S. English) leverage Gemini Nano for advanced detection
  • Pixel 6+ models use smaller on-device AI (beta availability may vary)
  • Manual enablement required via Phone app → Settings → Scam Detection

This feature prioritizes user privacy by processing call audio ephemerally without storing or sharing any data. Pixel Watch integration allows Wear OS users to enable call alerts through the Phone app after updating both devices. At present, Scam Detection for calls is available to Pixel 9+ users in the United States, with plans for broader expansion in the future.

Both of these AI-powered features are a big win for your mobile security, providing you with advanced protection against evolving scam tactics while keeping your privacy safe.

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Scam Detection for phone calls (Google)

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How you can stay ahead of scammers

While Google’s innovations provide robust protection, scammers are relentless in finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. Here are some additional steps you can take.

1. Have strong antivirus software: Google Play Protect, which is built-in malware protection for Android devices, automatically removes known malware. However, it is important to note that Google Play Protect may not be enough. Historically, it isn’t 100% foolproof at removing all emerging malware from Android devices. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks of the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

2. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification beyond just a password. 2FA makes it significantly harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access to your accounts, even if they obtain your password.

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3. Regularly update your software and devices: Keeping your systems up to date ensures you have the latest security patches and protections against newly discovered vulnerabilities.

4. Use strong and unique passwords: Use long, complex passphrases that are unique for each account. Consider using a password manager to help create and store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here.

5. Be cautious about sharing information: Avoid sharing sensitive details like financial information or passwords over text or phone calls unless you’re absolutely certain of the recipient’s identity. Be cautious of phishing attempts and verify the legitimacy of requests for personal information.

6. Invest in personal data removal services: Use a personal data removal service to remove your personal information from people-search websites, making it harder for scammers to find and target you. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Scammers are constantly changing their tactics, but so is technology designed to protect us. Google’s AI-powered scam detection features are a significant step forward in safeguarding Android users from fraud. However, staying safe requires a combination of tools and personal vigilance. By using strong antivirus software, removing yourself from people-search sites and being cautious with your personal information, you can stay one step ahead of scammers.

Do you think Google and other tech companies are doing enough to prevent scammers from attacking your Android? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

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Use this map to find the data centers in your backyard

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Use this map to find the data centers in your backyard

When Oregon resident Isabelle Reksopuro heard Google was gobbling up public land to fuel its data centers in her home state, she didn’t initially know what to believe. “There’s a lot of misinformation about data centers,” she said. “Google has denied taking that land.”

Technically, she explains, The Dalles, a city near the Washington state border, sought to reclaim that land, “and Google is just a big, unnamed power user.” The city had in fact asked for ownership of a 150-acre portion of Mount Hood National Forest, claiming it needs access to Mount Hood’s watershed to meet municipal needs as its population — 16,010 as of the 2020 census — grows. But critics, including environmentalists, say the city is trying to secure more water for Google, which has a sprawling data center campus in The Dalles that already consumes about one-third of the city’s water supply.

This controversy made Reksopuro curious about the backlash to data centers being built in other communities. So Reksopuro, a student at the University of Washington who studies the connections between tech and public policy, decided to map it out. Using information collected by Epoch AI and data scraped from legislation on data centers, she built an interactive map tracking AI policy around the world. She designed it to be simple enough for anyone to use. “I wanted it to be something that my younger sisters could play through and explore to understand what are the data centers in the area and what’s actually being done about it,” Reksopuro said. She hoped to shift their opinions that way, “instead of like, through TikTok.”

Four times a day, the map searches for new sources and checks them against the existing database Reksopuro built out. “Once it does that, it will write a new summary, add it to the news feed, and populate it on the sidebar,” she said. “I wanted it to be self-updating, since I’m also a student.”

Reksopuro isn’t against data centers, but she thinks tech giants benefit from a lack of transparency around data center policies. “Right now, it’s this really opaque thing — and all of a sudden, there’s a facility,” she said. “I think that if people knew about data centers beforehand, it would give them leverage. They would be able to negotiate: ask for job training programs, tax revenue, environmental monitoring, things to improve their community.”

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Fox News AI Newsletter: Graduation speaker praises AI, gets instantly booed

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Fox News AI Newsletter: Graduation speaker praises AI, gets instantly booed

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

 

Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.

IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:

– UCF graduates clobber commencement speaker with boos after she says AI is the ‘next Industrial Revolution’

– OPINION: DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: We brought the FBI out of the past and into the AI age

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– OpenAI backs creation of global AI governance body led by the U.S. that would include China as a member

TOUGH CROWD: During a recent commencement ceremony at the University of Central Florida, a speaker was met with loud boos from the graduating class after declaring that artificial intelligence represents the next industrial revolution. Fox News Digital reporting captures this tense cultural moment, illustrating the mixed public sentiment and skepticism surrounding AI’s growing footprint in daily life.

A statue on the campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. (iStock)

BADGE MEETS BYTE: Reflecting on the modernization of national security in a Fox News op-ed, FBI Director Kash Patel explores how the bureau must adapt its strategies to address modern threats and advance beyond the artificial intelligence age.

TECH DIPLOMACY: OpenAI is throwing its support behind the establishment of a new global artificial intelligence governance organization that would be led by the United States while notably including China as a member. Fox News Digital reporting examines the geopolitical dynamics and regulatory implications of this proposed framework as global powers race to set the standards for AI development.

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EQUITY ELEVATION: The massive wave of wealth generated by the explosive growth of ChatGPT and the broader AI industry is driving a sudden surge in the San Francisco Bay Area’s luxury real estate market. Fox News Digital reporting breaks down how the influx of new tech capital is reshaping local housing dynamics and fueling a high-end property frenzy.

FBI Director Kash Patel listened as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke during a press conference at the Department of Justice on April 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

STRATEGY RESET: Tech giant Cisco is planning to eliminate thousands of jobs as the company shifts its primary focus to accelerate its artificial intelligence initiatives, a move that comes despite the company beating earnings expectations. Fox News Digital reporting details the corporate restructuring and broader economic trends pushing legacy tech firms to aggressively pivot toward AI.

ROAD HAZARD: Waymo is issuing a sweeping recall of its autonomous vehicle fleet following a concerning incident that highlighted significant safety issues with the self-driving technology. Fox News Digital reporting outlines the specifics of the recall, the nature of the safety flaw, and what this setback means for the future of fully autonomous transportation on public roads.

BOTS IN THE BAY: A newly developed, artificial intelligence-powered robot has been engineered to seamlessly change and balance vehicle tires without human intervention. Fox News Digital reporting showcases this latest innovation, exploring how automation and AI mechanics could soon revolutionize the automotive service and repair industry.

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the 2026 Infrastructure Summit in Washington, D.C., on March 11, 2026. (Kylie Cooper/Reuters)

 

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Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here.

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Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs

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Microsoft’s Edge Copilot update uses AI to pull information from across your tabs

Microsoft Edge is adding a new feature that will allow its Copilot AI chatbot to gather information from all of your open tabs. When you start a conversation with Copilot, you can ask the chatbot questions about what’s in your tabs, compare the products you’re looking at, summarize your open articles, and more.

In its announcement, Microsoft says you can “select which experiences you want or leave off the ones you don’t.” The company is retiring Copilot Mode as well, which could similarly draw information from your tabs but offered some agentic features, like the ability to book a reservation on your behalf. Microsoft has since folded these agentic capabilities into its “Browse with Copilot” tool.

Several other AI features are coming to Edge, including an AI-powered “Study and Learn” mode that can turn the article you’re looking at into a study session or interactive quiz. There’s a new tool that turns your tabs into AI-powered podcasts as well, similar to what you’d find on NotebookLM, and an AI writing assistant that will pop up when you start entering text on a webpage.

You can also give Copilot permission to access your browsing history to provide more “relevant, high-quality answers,” according to Microsoft. Copilot in Edge on desktop and mobile will come with “long-term memory” as well, which can tailor its responses based on your previous conversations. And, when you open up a new tab, you’ll see a redesigned page that combines chat, search, and web navigation, along with the Journeys feature, which uses AI to organize your browsing history into categories that you can revisit.

Meanwhile, an update to Edge’s mobile app will allow you to share your screen with Copilot and talk through the questions about what you’re seeing. Microsoft says you’ll see “clear visual cues” when Copilot is active, “so you know when it’s taking an action, helping, listening, or viewing.”

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