AT&T is currently testing an AI-powered assistant intended to screen phone calls for its users, likening it to a “digital receptionist” that can identify and filter unwanted robocalls. This feature is being rolled out to a select group of customers in 2023 and utilizes data from AT&T’s network, including users’ call history, to enhance its functionality.
The AI assistant is designed to answer calls from unknown numbers and request additional information about the caller’s identity and purpose. Depending on specific criteria, such as detecting human voices or urgency in the call, the assistant can either connect the call to the user or take a message. Users also have the option to create a “Do Not Screen” list, ensuring important calls—such as those from medical offices or schools—are not missed.
AT&T’s approach, according to Andy Markus, the company’s chief data officer, distinguishes it from other call-screening services, such as those offered by Google and Apple. AT&T’s AI assistant leverages network data to recognize regular contacts, improving accuracy in distinguishing between important and spam calls.
In contrast, Google’s Call Screen functionality relies on the user’s contact list and analyzes spam through caller speech and comparisons to a database of known spam numbers. While Google’s feature focuses on device-specific capabilities, AT&T’s AI assistant does not require a particular device to function. Users can access real-time transcripts of the assistant’s interactions via an app, allowing them to monitor the conversation or choose to engage at any point.
This development marks a significant advancement in how mobile carriers might use AI technology to enhance user experiences in managing phone calls.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/778518/att-ai-call-screening-digital-receptionist