Daisy, the AI-powered granny, was created by O2 with a clear purpose: to combat phone scammers by wasting their time and resources. This innovative solution aims to trap fraudsters in lengthy, meandering conversations, preventing them from targeting genuine victims12. Developed in partnership with renowned scambaiter Jim Browning, Daisy is trained on real anonymized scammer data, enabling her to effectively engage and frustrate fraudulent callers1.

The AI granny serves multiple purposes beyond just tying up scammers' phone lines. Daisy acts as an educational tool, raising awareness about common fraud tactics and helping to expose scammers' methods3. Additionally, by keeping fraudsters occupied for extended periods, sometimes up to 40 minutes, Daisy significantly reduces the time these criminals have available to target real potential victims, potentially leading to a decrease in successful scam attempts42.

Daisy, the AI granny, is designed to engage scammers in realistic, time-wasting conversations by leveraging advanced conversational AI technology. She responds to scammers by playing into stereotypes about senior citizens being uncomfortable with technology, making her interactions believable and prolonged1. Daisy's key features include:

• Lifelike voice modeled after a real grandmother for authenticity2

• Ability to hold autonomous conversations with scam callers3

• Trained on real anonymized scammer data to effectively respond to common tactics1

• Capable of keeping fraudsters on the line for extended periods, sometimes up to 40 minutes4

• Designed to provide false personal information to maintain scammer engagement5

By combining these features, Daisy effectively wastes scammers' time and resources, potentially reducing their ability to target genuine victims while also gathering valuable data on their methods and tactics.

Daisy, the AI granny scambaiter, represents a significant step forward in the fight against phone fraud. According to a survey commissioned by O2, 71% of Brits expressed a desire to retaliate against scammers who have targeted them or their loved ones1. By keeping fraudsters engaged in fruitless conversations, Daisy not only satisfies this public sentiment but also contributes to fraud prevention in several ways:

• Reduces scammer efficiency by occupying their time, potentially decreasing the number of victims they can target

• Gathers valuable data on scammer tactics, which can be used to improve fraud detection and prevention strategies

• Raises public awareness about scamming techniques, helping potential victims recognize and avoid fraudulent calls

• Serves as a deterrent, potentially discouraging scammers from targeting O2 customers if they encounter Daisy frequently23

While the long-term impact of Daisy on fraud prevention remains to be seen, her deployment represents an innovative approach to combating phone scams, combining public engagement with advanced AI technology to address a widespread problem.

Daisy, the AI granny scambaiter, is powered by state-of-the-art conversational AI technology developed by O2 in collaboration with well-known scambaiter Jim Browning12. The system utilizes advanced natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to generate human-like responses in real-time. Key technical aspects of Daisy's implementation include:

• Training on anonymized real scammer data to accurately mimic authentic interactions1

• Lifelike voice synthesis technology that produces a convincing elderly female voice3

• Autonomous conversation capabilities, allowing Daisy to engage scammers without human intervention4

• Adaptive response generation that tailors interactions based on scammer tactics and conversation flow

• Integration with O2's telecommunications infrastructure to intercept and handle potential scam calls

These technical features enable Daisy to engage scammers effectively, maintaining believable conversations that can last up to 40 minutes, significantly disrupting fraudulent operations and gathering valuable data on scamming techniques5.