Google recently introduced new Artificial Intelligence tools to safeguard the 2.5 billion users of Gmail from the upsurge in holiday scams. The company shared in a recent update that these enhanced measures are part of its continuous efforts to combat the seasonal increase in phishing, spam, and malware, especially during the shopping period starting in mid-November.
With Gmail being the world’s largest email provider, Google emphasized the significance of maintaining secure inboxes for users. The company highlighted its success in blocking over 99.9% of spam, phishing, and malware attempts throughout the year but acknowledged the heightened challenge during the holiday season.
Google observed a notable impact from the security features introduced in the past year, with users experiencing a 35% reduction in scam emails reaching their inboxes compared to the previous year during the first month of this holiday season. These enhancements have allowed Google to prevent millions of potentially harmful messages from reaching users.
The advancements are fueled by various advanced AI models, including a newly developed large language model tailored to detect phishing, spam, and malware patterns. This large language model has significantly enhanced detection by blocking 20% more spam and processing a thousand times more user-reported spam daily.
In preparation for the holiday shopping rush, Google rolled out an AI model just before Black Friday that serves as a “supervisor” to existing security systems. This model swiftly evaluates numerous threat signals when a suspicious message is flagged, enabling Gmail to apply necessary protections in real-time.
Google emphasized that its AI systems operate in the background to safeguard billions of inboxes, adapting swiftly as attackers evolve their tactics. However, the company cautioned that scammers continuously refine their strategies, especially during peak periods of activity.
Users were advised by Google to stay vigilant and report any dubious emails as spam or phishing to proactively combat potential threats. The company stressed the importance of remaining proactive in staying ahead of scams during high-risk periods.