O2’s Daisy: The AI Granny Giving Scammers a Hard Time
Scammers, meet your match. O2, a leading UK telecom company, has introduced Daisy, an AI-powered “granny” scambaiter who’s here to chat scammers out of their game. Don’t let her warm, cookie-baking persona fool you—Daisy’s goal is to waste fraudsters’ time, preventing them from targeting real victims.
What Makes Daisy Unique?
Daisy is part of O2’s “Swerve the Scammers” campaign, a response to the rising number of scam calls. Unlike traditional anti-fraud measures, Daisy fights scams by engaging fraudsters in lifelike, human-like conversations.
- AI-Driven Conversations: Daisy can process and respond in real time, keeping scammers occupied for up to 40 minutes by chatting about imaginary knitting projects, fictitious family dramas, or anything else that might keep the fraudsters hooked.
- Expert Training: O2 collaborated with Jim Browning, a renowned YouTube scambaiter, to train Daisy with tried-and-true strategies for deceiving scammers.
Why Daisy Was Created
Research indicates that while 70% of Brits want revenge on scammers, over half prefer not to spend their own time on it. Daisy steps in as the perfect solution, saving people time while frustrating fraudsters.
Educational Impact
Daisy isn’t just about keeping scammers at bay. She’s also helping spread awareness about fraud. O2 partnered with Amy Hart, a TV personality who lost £5,000 to a scam, to highlight common fraud tactics. Together, they educate the public on how to identify and avoid scams.
O2’s Broader Efforts
O2 is committed to fighting fraud on multiple fronts:
- Blocking millions of scam calls and texts each month.
- Encouraging the public to report scams by forwarding messages to 7726, a free service.
- Advocating for systemic change, such as appointing a fraud minister and forming a national anti-fraud task force.
How Daisy Helps Everyone Stay Safe
Daisy is a reminder that scams can happen to anyone, but with tools like her, they can be stopped. If you get a suspicious call, hang up, report it, and let Daisy handle the rest. Her endless patience ensures scammers spend their time talking to someone who won’t fall for their tricks.
Scammers, beware—Daisy’s here to chat, and she’s got plenty of stories to tell.
