Google tests AI for scam detection, raising privacy concerns

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Google is testing a new feature that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect scam calls in real-time. Announced at Google I/O, the feature would analyze phone conversations for patterns associated with scams and alert users when a scam is suspected.

During the demonstration, Google Vice President for Engineering Dave Burke received a call from someone impersonating a bank. His phone displayed a notification: "Likely scam: Banks will never ask you to move your money to keep it safe."

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Google I/O 2024: AI focus, Pixel 8A on the horizon?

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Google I/O 2024 is happening in two months on May 14. It will be a mix of virtual and in-person elements. Expect a keynote address from its Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, with a limited live audience and livestreamed for everyone else. This year's focus is most likely on artificial intelligence, especially with Google's recent releases of the Gemini and Gemma AI models.

Beyond AI, attendees can expect announcements about Android 15, updates to Google services, and potentially a new Pixel phone—the Pixel 8A, successor to last year's mid-range 7A. Google will have a lot of AI advancements to showcase, but they may also face questions about navigating competition and recent AI stumbles like the Gemini image generator controversy.

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Google Assistant with Duplex helps you automatically change stolen passwords in Chrome

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Google plans to use both Assistant and Duplex to make it easier to change stolen passwords on Chrome. Duplex is technology designed to handle tedious, multi-step processes on your behalf (like making a phone reservation). There's a version of this tech that can help you through online forms.

Now, Google Assistant and Duplex will make it easier to change compromised passwords on Chrome for Android. When you get warned about this issue on the mobile browser, an Assistant logo will show up next to the blue "Change password" button.

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Google Photos to animate your still shots soon

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Google Photos will be taking advantage of machine learning once again to introduce a new trick. It can take to similar photos and animate these into a "vivid moving picture." As shown in the examples Google gave during Google I/O, it'll be a great feature for parents as they love to take multiple pictures of kids. 

These new "Cinematic moments" will be coming to both Android and iOS. Some other new Google Photos features include a new locked folder feature where you can hide sensitive photos or videos in a password-protected folder. And for those who want to hide specific people or moments in your life, Google will make it easier to hide these from your Memories within the app soon.

Source: Google

Check out our Google I/O 2021 coverage HERE.