Meet ‘Daisy’ an AI bot that wastes phone scammers’ time [Video]

Scammers beware, there’s a new AI ready to waste your time on the phone — and it’s intentionally programmed to sound like someone’s proud grandma.

Developed by UK provider Virgin Media O2 and announced on Thursday, “Daisy” is an AI-fuelled call answering service that aims to keep scam callers on the line as long as possible, meaning less time spent with potential human victims. It’s the same idea we’ve seen in a fair few time-wasting bots in the past — and it’s the signature strategy adopted by scam fighter Scamalot aka James Veitch.

O2 worked on the AI with YouTuber Jim Browning, whose scambusting work has seen him track and expose many a fraudulent scheme using various strategies.

Described by the company as “head of scammer relations”, the Daisy AI is programmed to give rambling stories to callers — and I’m not going to lie, the details sound a little bit like age-based stereotyping …