An AI granny is phone scammers’ worst nightmare

Daisy Harris likes birds - there's one outside her window. Her cat is named Fluffy, and she'd love to tell you about her knitting hobby. She likes tea and biscuits. And she just can't seem to figure out this internet thing.

But perhaps you can explain it just one more time?

That's the general vibe of a chat with Daisy Harris, an AI-generated granny unveiled this month by the big British phone company O2, as part of its efforts to curb phone scammers. She doesn't have a badge, or a warrant, or any way to really stop them. But when an unlucky fraudster dials her number, Daisy does have the power to waste unlimited amounts of their time.

There are plenty of human scambaiters out there - people who identify would-be thieves and turn the tables, leading them on meandering conversations that keep them from calling other potential victims. Unlike them, Daisy is free...