Last Updated: September 26, 2024, 12:34 ISTAirtel is offering this free-of-cost service to its customersSpam calls are annoying and dangerous and it seems telcos are relying on AI tech to free us from the problem.Spam calls and messages have become a nuisance in India and the mobile users could eventually see the problem going away. Airtel has confirmed its plans to implement AI technology to sort the issue and help people be aware of such calls and messages. The telecom operator has announced its free AI-powered spam detection system, which it claims is a first-of-kind solution by an operator in the country. AI is the talk of the town and it is hardly surprising to see the technology make its mark in the telecom space as well. But can AI become the saviour of millions from spam content, Airtel seems to think so. Airtel AI-Powered Spam Tool: How It WorksWe’ve already seen tools like Truecaller help people detect spam calls and messages, so how is Airtel’s service offering going to be different? Well, firstly, Airtel says the detection will happen in the background automatically and you don’t need any app or pay a fee to use the service. So, the money you pay for the mobile service will be inclusive of this solution. The telco has set up a two-layer protection system, which includes the network and the IT process where the AI tech does its work. Airtel says it can process 1.5 billion messages and 2.5 billion calls every day in 2 milliseconds which is a big claim that it needs to prove over time. The telco doesn’t say when the feature will go live for the users. Airtel has built an algorithm which is able to read for signs in a call or message passing through the network and alert the user if it is a spam. The users will see a Suspected spam label for calls and even SMSs they get from various services or scammers. The advanced level of detection might raise privacy concerns for the users but Airtel has defined metadata based on which the alert is passed on to the end user. Systems like these are much needed and allow consumers to trust the telcos, if they have certain inhibitions about apps like Truecaller. The Indian government has demanded telcos to strengthen their spam detection mechanism and we might see others join the ranks in the foreseeable future.S AadeetyaS Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media ho…Read More