Android can detect callers impersonating user contacts

Google is introducing a range of new features for Android devices ahead of the launch of the Android 17 operating system, which is scheduled for release at the end of this year. According to reports from Engadget, the update includes fraud detection features for calls, artificial intelligence (AI) enhancements for Google Photos and Google Play Books, and updates to Circle to Search and Quick Share.

In its official announcement, Google introduced a more sophisticated fake call detection feature via the Google Phone application. This feature will alert users if a caller is impersonating someone saved in their contact list. When both the caller and the recipient are using Google Phone, the caller’s device will silently send a real-time verification signal to ensure the call is genuinely originating from the recipient’s contact. This verification process utilises end-to-end encrypted Rich Communication Services (RCS) technology to maintain user privacy. If the application does not receive this verification signal, the system will display a warning, advising the user to terminate the call immediately due to the potential for fraud. This detection feature will be available for Android 12 and above devices using the Google Phone app.

In addition to fraud detection, Google is expanding access to the Personal Safety application for users under the age of 13. Through this app, users can display medical information and emergency contacts on their device’s lock screen and activate safety features such as vehicle accident detection.

In the productivity and entertainment segments, Google has added new AI capabilities to Google Photos and Google Play Books. Google Photos now features ‘Wardrobe’, which allows the application to recognise and catalogue clothing worn by users in photos. The feature can also assist users in virtually trying on clothes. Currently, Wardrobe is available for specific devices in the United States, India, and Brazil running Android 10 or newer.

Meanwhile, Google Play Books is now equipped with AI features capable of providing additional information based on text highlighted by the user, as well as generating summaries or recaps of the books being read. These AI features for Google Play Books are beginning to roll out for several English-language book titles.

Google has also updated the Circle to Search feature. While previously only able to recognise a single object within an image, it can now identify and search for multiple objects simultaneously within one image. Furthermore, for file sharing, Quick Share has been expanded to more Android devices, allowing users to share files more easily, including interacting with Apple devices using AirDrop. Additionally, Google has updated Emoji Kitchen on the Gboard keyboard, allowing users to combine more emoji combinations to produce new stickers and expressions.