Google has announced a significant update to its anti-scam measures on Android, bringing automated protection against deepfake phone scams to devices running Android 12 and higher. The feature, which expands on last month's verified financial calls system, now works with any contact in your phone's address book. As AI voice cloning becomes more accessible and convincing—with the FTC tracking nearly $3 billion in losses from impersonation fraud in 2024 alone—this update aims to give users a critical layer of defense.
The core mechanism relies on a trio of Google apps: Phone by Google, Contacts, and Google Messages. When a call arrives that appears to be from a saved contact, the dialer app checks for a confirmation signal that is absent in spoofed relay calls. If the signal is missing, the system uses Google Messages to send an authenticated RCS ping to the supposed caller's device. If that device reports it is not initiating the call, a pop-up alert warns the user that the person on the line may not be who they think they are.
This approach directly targets one of the most common deepfake scam tactics: number spoofing, where scammers make a call appear to come from a known contact. Victims then hear a realistic audio clone of the contact's voice, often requesting urgent financial help. Older detection methods relied on on-device AI to analyze call behavior, but the new verification system provides a more definitive check by contacting the other party's phone directly.
However, there is a notable limitation. For the verification to work, the caller you are trying to verify must also have the same three Google apps installed and configured on their device. Users of Samsung's own dialer or OnePlus's contacts app will not be able to participate in this verification loop, potentially leaving gaps in protection. Google acknowledges that Phone by Google is the most widely used dialer based on its data, but Samsung—the largest Android OEM—defaults to its own app, so adoption may be slower.
Expanding AI and connectivity features
Alongside the security update, Google is rolling out a series of AI-powered enhancements. The "Find the Look" feature within Circle to Search, initially limited to Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26, is now expanding to all devices running Android 14 and higher. This tool analyzes any image on your screen to identify all visible clothing items, from jackets and shirts to shoes and accessories. By circling an image, users can tap a button to get detailed information about each piece of an outfit, including potential shopping links for similar items.
Google Photos is also getting a new AI-assisted fashion engine. The app will catalog the clothing you wear in photos, building a virtual wardrobe that you can browse and organize. You can even generate AI images of yourself wearing those outfits, though the company warns that such virtual representations may not accurately reflect real-world fit and color. The feature aims to make outfit planning and discovery more seamless, but practicality remains a caveat.
On the connectivity front, Google is expanding AirDrop support—now branded as Quick Share with Nearby Share integration—to a wider range of Android devices. Originally limited to recent Pixels and Samsung flagships, the list now includes Samsung Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy Z Fold/Flip series, Galaxy S24 series, OnePlus 15, Xiaomi 17T Pro, Vivo X300 series, and HONOR Magic V6. This allows direct file transfers between Android and iPhones, though the process still requires the iPhone to be set to "anyone for 10 minutes" mode. Contact-based sharing from Android to iPhone remains unsupported, limiting the convenience factor.
These updates reflect Google's broader strategy to keep Android competitive both in security and user experience. As AI-powered scams evolve, the new call verification method provides a proactive tool that doesn't rely solely on user judgment. Meanwhile, the AI fashion features and broader AirDrop compatibility aim to enhance daily productivity and interoperability. All these changes are rolling out gradually through Google Play Services and app updates, so users may need to check for updates to the relevant apps.
Source:Ars Technica News