Microsoft's Azure Operator Call Protection uses AI to detect scam calls

At MWC 2024, Microsoft announced the public preview of Azure Operator Call Protection, a new service for network operators that applies AI analysis to phone calls in real time, alerts the subscriber if the call is suspicious.

Since Azure Operator Call Protection will be implemented in a network level, scam call protection can be enabled for all types of mobile and landlines connected to the internet. This solution offers significant advantage over app-based scam call protections which will require consumers to download the apps and configure them. If consumers want AI-based scam call protection, they can just request their network operator to enable it in the backend with simple steps.

Once the call is detected as a scam all, Azure Operator Call Protection service notifies subscribers of an attempted scam by sending them a text message, which includes a brief summary of why the call is a scam and mitigation actions the subscriber should take.

Here’s how Azure Operator Call Protection works:

• Azure AI services is used to transcribe the call to text. 
• The transcribed call content is analyzed to detect a potentially fraudulent call.
• If the call is found to be fraudulent, Azure Text-to-Speech technology can be used to render the text back into audio to warn the subscriber that the call is potentially fraudulent. Or a summary of the detection can be sent as a text to the subscriber during the call.

Telecom operators interested in Azure Operator Call Protection can deploy it as part of Azure Communications Gateway. Azure Operator Call Protection service is available for free during the preview period. Pricing details will be announced when the service becomes generally available. BT Group in the UK is already trialing Azure Operator Call Protection to identify and protect their subscribers from potential fraud phone calls.

Azure Operator Call Protection is just a start. Through its Voice AI architecture, Microsoft has now enabled telecom operators to deliver their own carrier branded AI offering such as Personal Assistant, Language Translation, Business Assistant, etc to their subscribers.