Call-blocking app rolls out AI-powered upgrade
Artificial intelligence can make smart homes smarter, help us manage our days, and even help us plan major life changes. This series looks at the new — and sometimes surprising — ways AI is being used to enhance our lives.
A new AI feature from Truecaller is taking on spam calls, which is tech we can get behind.
Per TechCrunch, the caller ID app released "Max," a setting that uses AI to filter out unwanted calls. The feature comes in an update for Truecaller Premium subscribers, which is only available for Android. So, the release is limited to Android users who pay $9.99 or more for the premium tiers. Due to Apple's closed ecosystem approach to app development, Truecaller functionality is limited and doesn't have a paid version for iOS.
Filtering out the deluge of unwanted calls is a welcome use of AI. According to the Federal Trade Commission, almost 50 billion robocalls were made in 2022. AI's ability to analyze and automate large amounts of data makes it an easy fit for roboblocking services like Truecaller. Recently, the app also announced Truecaller Assistant, which uses AI to field calls for you and determine whether to transfer the call to you.
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Typically, Truecaller blocks calls by checking potential spam numbers against its database of known culprits. The AI feature works by automatically blocking all calls from unapproved contacts or numbers Truecaller's AI believes to be spam calls. Consequently, "there can be certain cases where some legitimate businesses may temporarily [be blocked]," said Vice President Kunal Dua to TechCrunch. But, users can unblock a number at any time, and Dua added that with this feedback, the service will improve over time.
For Android users who have a Truecaller Premium account, you can turn on Max by updating the Truecaller app to the latest version, and going to Settings > Block. From there, you'll see a new option for enabling Max.
Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.
