iWorld
Airtel, Google collaborate to block spam messages with web links
Google says safer RCS will boost trust in business messaging
GURUGRAM: Bharti Airtel will roll out its AI-powered spam protection tool on text messages sent via Google’s messaging platform, extending its anti-fraud shield beyond the traditional telecom network.
The partnership integrates Airtel’s network intelligence with Google’s Rich Communications Services (RCS) platform and built-in spam filters. Users will retain RCS features such as high-resolution photos, video and interactive message reactions, while gaining stronger protection against mobile spam and digital fraud.
Airtel says its AI systems have blocked 7,100 crore spam calls and 290 crore spam SMSes over the past 18 months. The company claims this drove a 68.7 per cent drop in the value of financial losses on its network during that period.
The move reflects a growing concern over internet-based bulk messaging services, which often embed transaction links and are increasingly exploited by fraudsters.
Bharti Airtel executive vice chairman Gopal Vittal, said the partnership pushes customer protection beyond the telco domain. He urged over-the-top communication platforms to collaborate in curbing spam and financial fraud, arguing that many non-telco apps lack the stringent safeguards embedded in carrier-grade systems.
Airtel noted that traditional mobile networks operate under defined safety standards. By contrast, several standalone messaging apps have become fertile ground for “sophisticated bad actors”, turning into common conduits for invasive spam and financial scams.
The integration with Google aims to close that gap. By embedding Airtel’s intelligence layer into RCS, alongside Google’s own spam protections, the companies say they are creating a carrier-backed messaging environment with higher accountability.
Google Android ecosystem president Sameer Samat, said businesses using RCS for enterprise communication would benefit from clearer authentication, enabling customers to distinguish legitimate brand messages from spam. Greater trust, he argued, would translate into deeper engagement and more durable customer relationships.
iWorld
Talk to your telly: JioHotstar’s new AI voice feature reads your mood to suggest shows
The streaming giant ditches the scroll for a “conversational” AI that understands moods, cricket and Hinglish
MUMBAI: The era of the endless scroll may finally be over. JioHotstar has officially flicked the switch on its “Conversational Voice Discovery” (CVD) feature, a high-tech overhaul designed to turn the hunt for a Friday night film into a natural chat. Developed in a landmark partnership with OpenAI, the tool moves beyond clunky keyword searches, allowing users to find content by describing their mood, context or even the most bizarre viewing scenarios.
The feature is vision of Uday Shankar, vice chairman of JioStar, whose goal is to eliminate “content overload” by replacing the tedious, traditional scroll with natural dialogue. By leveraging ChatGPT’s ability to grasp context and cultural nuance, the new mobile interface allows users to bypass menus entirely, turning search into a seamless conversation.
The launch, which rolled out across India this month, sees a ChatGPT-powered interface integrated directly into the heart of the app. Instead of typing “action movie” into a sterile search bar, viewers can now speak to their devices as if they were asking a well-read friend for a tip. For now, the feature is exclusive to the mobile app, with a rollout for Connected TV (CTV) expected in later phases.
Beyond the keyword
The CVD feature is built on what JioStar calls “Multilingual Cognitive Search.” It is designed to interpret nuance rather than just matching text. If you tell the app, “I’ve had a long day, give me something mindless and funny,” it won’t just look for those words in a title; it will sift through 300,000 hours of library content to find a light-hearted sitcom or a stand-up special that fits the vibe.
The tech is natively multilingual, catering to India’s diverse linguistic landscape. Users can switch effortlessly between languages—asking for “Koi light-hearted comedy dikhao” (show me some light-hearted comedy) or requesting a “Thriller hai but zyada dark nahi chahiye” (a thriller that isn’t too dark).
Real-time curiosity and live sports
Perhaps the most ambitious aspect of the rollout is its integration with live sports. During a high-stakes cricket match, the AI acts as a digital companion. Fans can ask, “Who is the top scorer right now?” or “Show me that last wicket again,” and the system will pull the relevant data or clips instantly. It even attempts to explain the “why” behind the crowd’s energy, responding to prompts like, “Why is everyone reacting like that?” by contextualizing on-field events.
A shift in streaming strategy
The move is part of a broader reimagining of the entertainment experience following the massive merger between JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. Uday Shankar noted that the goal is to make premium entertainment “truly accessible” by embedding AI at the core of the user journey. By anticipating culture and context, the platform hopes to kill off “decision fatigue.”
For OpenAI, the partnership represents a major play in the Indian market. Fidji Simo, the head of applications at OpenAI, said the goal was to turn a “one-way” passive consumption experience into a “deeply personal conversation.”
As the feature goes live for millions of subscribers, the message from Bombay House is clear: the remote control is becoming obsolete. Whether you’re looking for a show that “feels like a rainy Sunday afternoon” or a crime series with a “strong female lead but not too violent,” all you have to do is ask.
