AI‑Driven Call Screening Arrives on Pixel 9 Devices

Google announced that its on‑device scam‑detection feature, powered by the Gemini Nano model, will be available on Pixel 9 smartphones in India. The system analyzes voice calls locally, flags potential fraud, and plays a beep to notify participants. It operates only on calls from unknown numbers, is off by default, and currently supports only English‑language interactions.

Screen‑Sharing Scam Alerts Pilot

In parallel, Google introduced a pilot with three financial‑app partners—Navi, Paytm and Google Pay—to combat screen‑sharing scams. Users running Android 11 or later will receive alerts when a call attempts to initiate screen sharing, with a one‑tap option to end the call and stop the sharing. The alerts are slated to appear in Indian languages as the pilot expands.

Play Protect and DigiKavach Efforts

Google’s Play Protect service continues to block predatory loan apps, reporting more than 115 million blocked installation attempts this year. The company’s DigiKavach awareness campaign, aimed at educating users about digital fraud, has reportedly reached more than 250 million people. Google Pay also surfaces over a million weekly warnings for potentially fraudulent transactions.

Challenges and Market Realities

Despite the technical advances, the rollout faces notable constraints. Pixel devices hold less than 1 % of the Indian smartphone market, limiting the immediate impact of the on‑device feature. The English‑only limitation also restricts reach in a market where many users primarily use non‑English languages. Google has indicated plans to extend the technology to non‑Pixel Android phones, though no timeline was provided.

Collaboration with Regulators

Google has worked with the Reserve Bank of India to publish a public list of authorized digital lending apps and their associated non‑banking financial companies, aiming to reduce the prevalence of malicious actors. The company’s broader Safety Charter in India seeks to expand AI‑driven fraud detection and security tools across the ecosystem.

Overall Outlook

The new AI‑powered tools represent a significant step in Google’s effort to curb digital fraud in India, addressing both call‑based scams and screen‑sharing attacks. However, limited device penetration, language barriers, and ongoing challenges with app vetting suggest that further work will be needed to achieve comprehensive protection for Indian users.

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