Google announced on Tuesday that Android is rolling out a new fake call detection feature designed to protect users from AI deepfake impersonation scams.
The feature is launching globally this month in the Phone by Google app for Android 12 and newer devices, starting with Pixel phones.
As more people avoid answering calls from unknown numbers, scammers are changing their tactics. Instead of relying solely on random calls, they are now spoofing trusted phone numbers and using AI deepfake tools to impersonate family members, employers, or authority figures.
In one example, a user may receive a call that appears to come from “Mom,” with a voice that sounds exactly like her. But the caller may actually be a scammer using AI to impersonate her and ask for money during a fake emergency.
Google says the new feature is enabled by default and runs automatically in the background. The company describes the system as a kind of “digital handshake between devices.” When one of your contacts calls you, and both of you are using Phone by Google, the caller’s phone sends a silent confirmation signal to your device to verify that the call is real and coming from their actual phone.
If a scammer tries to impersonate a trusted contact, that confirmation signal will be missing. Google says your phone will detect this and then ping the real device of your contact to check whether they are actually making the call. If the real device confirms that no call is being made, your phone will show a warning advising you to hang up immediately.
Google says the technology is built on Rich Communication Services, or RCS, which could allow other apps and companies to adopt the same type of protection in the future.
The fake call detection feature was announced alongside several other Android updates. Google Photos is getting a new virtual wardrobe feature that lets users mix and match outfits and try them on digitally. The tool creates snapshots of clothes from a user’s photo library and makes them browsable on their phone. It will roll out next week to eligible Android 10 and newer users in the U.S., India, and Brazil.
Google Play Books is also adding a new “Catch me up” feature that gives users a recap when they return to a story. Users will also be able to highlight a passage and ask questions about it. These features are rolling out today for selected English titles.
Google is also updating Circle to Search so users can search an entire outfit at once. Instead of searching for each item separately, the feature can now identify multiple pieces of clothing in one search. The update is available now on Android 14 and newer devices that support Circle to Search.
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