Airtel has announced an enhancement to its network-based artificial intelligence (AI) solution for detecting spam calls and messages. The newly updated AI spam detection tool now has the capability to automatically identify spam calls and SMS messages, alerting users in near real-time so they can make informed choices before answering calls or responding to texts. The service will support ten Indian regional languages, along with international phone numbers.
In a press release, the telecom company detailed the expansion of its AI solution. The spam detection tool is now capable of informing users about spam communications from both domestic and international numbers. Customers in India can expect these alerts in languages including Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu, in addition to English. Plans are in place to introduce more languages in the future.
The provider noted that the spam alert notifications in regional languages are currently available exclusively for users with Android devices. There was no indication from the company regarding the potential for offering this feature to iPhone users. Importantly, the AI-powered spam detection function is provided free of charge to all users with an active Airtel connection and is set up automatically, eliminating the need for users to file service requests.
Airtel reported that since the introduction of the AI tool in September 2024, it has identified and issued warnings about approximately 27.5 billion spam calls to users.
At the time of its initial launch, the telecom company asserted that the AI-powered tool is based on proprietary algorithms developed in-house. This technology analyzes various parameters to classify a number as a spammer, including usage patterns, frequency of calls and messages, and call duration, all of which are monitored in real-time.
