Google is deploying advanced AI tools across Search, Chrome, and Android to detect and block online scams more effectively.
The tech giant announced on Wednesday, May 8, that it will be integrating its on-device large language model (LLM) called Gemini Nano with the desktop version of its Chrome browser to act as an additional layer of defence against online scams. It will be expanded to Android devices in the future.
Gemini Nano will be used to improve Enhanced Protection mode of Safe Browsing on Chrome.
“The on-device approach provides instant insight on risky websites and allows us to offer protection, even against scams that haven’t been seen before. Gemini Nano’s LLM is perfect for this use because of its ability to distill the varied, complex nature of websites, helping us adapt to new scam tactics more quickly,” Google said in a blog post.
The company said it was already using the AI-enhanced approach to address remote tech support scams.
Aside from Gemini Nano, Google said it will start displaying AI-powered warnings to Chrome and Android users. “When Chrome’s on-device machine learning model flags a notification, you’ll receive a warning with the option to either unsubscribe or view the content that was blocked. And if you decide the warning was shown incorrectly, you can choose to allow future notifications from that website,” the company said.
Google has been leveraging AI to detect and block online scams for several years now. For instance, AI is used to block millions of scammy search results on Google Search every day, as per the company.
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These AI-powered systems are used to scan vast quantities of text on the web, identify coordinated scam campaigns, and detect emerging threats. “For example, we’ve observed a significant increase in bad actors on the web impersonating airline customer service providers and scamming people in need of help,” Google said, adding that AI has helped the company reduce these types of airline customer service scams by more than 80 per cent in Search.
AI has also reportedly enabled the big tech company to identify 20 times more scam web pages than before. To address scam calls and messages, Google said it has undertaken efforts such as rolling out on-device, AI-powered Scam Detection in Google Messages and Phone by Google on Android devices.
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