The escalating volume of scam and spam calls has prompted phone manufacturers, particularly Google and Samsung, to integrate robust call-filtering features into their operating systems. These features, while varying slightly between phone models and Android versions, generally aim to identify, block, and even automatically handle unwanted calls using AI. This allows users greater control over their incoming calls and significantly minimizes disruptions from fraudulent or nuisance callers.
Google’s Pixel phones, and other Android devices with the Google Phone app installed, leverage Google’s vast database to identify potential spam calls. Upon receiving a call, the app cross-references the number against a repository of reported spam numbers. Users can customize the level of protection, choosing to see caller and spam IDs, filter spam calls directly to voicemail, or even automatically screen calls using Google’s Call Screen feature. This automatic screening employs AI to answer the call, providing the user with a real-time transcript of the conversation. Users can then decide whether to answer the call, send pre-written responses, or simply end the call.
Samsung, on the other hand, incorporates its “Smart Call” feature, powered by Hiya, into its Galaxy phone lineup. Similar to Google’s offering, Smart Call identifies potential spam and scam calls, providing users with warnings and the option to automatically block these calls. Users can tailor the blocking feature to target all suspected spam calls or only those deemed high-risk by Hiya. Further enhancing user control, both Google and Samsung phones allow manual blocking of specific numbers. This feature ensures that calls from blocked numbers are sent directly to voicemail without any notification.
Beyond identification and blocking, both Google and Samsung offer AI-powered call screening functionalities. Google’s Call Screen, particularly robust in the US, allows for automatic screening of unknown numbers based on user-defined protection levels – Maximum, Medium, or Basic. The AI answers the call and provides a live transcript, allowing the user to monitor the conversation and choose an appropriate course of action. Outside the US, Call Screen primarily focuses on saving call audio and transcripts. Samsung’s counterpart, Bixby Text Call, follows a similar approach, answering calls and presenting a transcribed conversation on the screen. Users can choose pre-written quick responses or join the call at any time.
Both call screening services offer convenience and a layer of protection against unwanted interactions. They provide users with the information needed to determine the legitimacy of a call without direct engagement, empowering them to avoid potentially fraudulent or time-consuming conversations. This proactive approach shifts control from the caller to the recipient, significantly mitigating the impact of unwanted calls.
These spam and scam call mitigation features, available across various Android devices, represent a significant step toward empowering users in managing their communication. Whether it’s pre-call identification, automatic blocking, or AI-driven screening, these tools equip users with the necessary control to minimize disruptions from unwanted calls and enhance their overall mobile experience. The ongoing development and refinement of these features promise even greater protection against the ever-evolving tactics of scam and spam callers in the future.
