Google has announced several major AI safety updates for India, focusing on secure authentication, fraud prevention, and responsible AI use. The new features were introduced during an event in New Delhi ahead of the AI Impact Summit 2026, ensuring safer digital experiences for millions of users across India, especially those relying on financial apps and Android ecosystems. The announcements highlight Google’s mission to provide AI tools that are safe, inclusive, equitable and representative for Indian users, businesses, and institutions across the country.
The tech giant is rolling out screen-sharing scam alerts, a pioneering protection for financial apps in India. Additionally, Google is introducing Enhanced Phone Number Verification (ePNV), designed to replace vulnerable SMS OTP flows with a secure SIM-based mechanism. Features like real-time on-device scam detection, Gemini Nano-powered alerts, and the expansion of SynthID watermarking further strengthen Google’s AI safety ecosystem for Indian users. With these updates, India’s AI landscape is set for a major transformation, improving cyber safety for students, enterprises, creators, educators, and everyday smartphone users.
Google’s New AI Safety Features for India
Google stated in its blog post that these initiatives aim to protect vulnerable audiences, reduce online harm, and build strong cybersecurity systems for consumers and enterprises. The new features also support India’s push for safe and transparent AI adoption across sectors.
Pilot Feature: Screen-Sharing Scam Alerts on Financial Apps
Google has partnered with Google Pay, Navi, and Paytm to launch a pilot project that alerts users about potential scams.
Key highlights include:
- Alerts appear when a user opens the financial app while sharing their screen with an unknown contact
- Works on Android 11 and newer versions
- Designed to prevent real-time fraud attempts
This initiative is crucial for India, where screen-sharing scams have surged due to manipulated remote-access apps.
Enhanced Phone Number Verification (ePNV): A New Authentication Standard
Google unveiled ePNV, a next-generation Android security protocol set to revolutionise app login systems.
Benefits of ePNV include:
- Replaces SMS-based OTP authentication
- Uses a secure, consent-driven SIM-based verification
- Eliminates OTP interception vulnerabilities
This new system enhances data privacy and combats OTP-related frauds widely prevalent in India.
Pixel Real-Time Scam Detection with Gemini Nano
Google confirmed the rollout of real-time scam detection on Pixel smartphones.
Important details:
- Works on-device only
- Uses Gemini Nano to flag suspicious call patterns
- No recordings, transcripts, or cloud uploads
- Disabled by default, giving users full control
This provides Pixel users with a powerful AI assistant to safeguard sensitive financial conversations.
Google Play Protect: 115 Million Fraud Attempts Blocked
Google also revealed new data about the effectiveness of Google Play Protect, which:
- Blocked over 115 million sideloaded app installation attempts
- Targeted apps attempting to abuse sensitive permissions
- Prevented widespread financial fraud, phishing, and malware
SynthID Expands to Academia & Media
Google’s SynthID AI watermarking and detection tool is now being made available to:
- Researchers
- Universities
- Media publishers
This expansion supports responsible AI usage, helping users verify whether content is AI-generated and reducing misinformation.
Why These Updates Matter for Indian Users
These AI safety features are particularly valuable for:
- Students using digital banking or learning tools
- Young aspirants using online financial services
- First-time smartphone users
- Professionals relying on secure authentication
- Enterprises building safe AI applications
The updates ensure strong privacy, reduce fraud risks, and support India’s growing digital ecosystem.
FAQs
| What new AI safety tools has Google launched in India? |
| Google introduced scam alerts, ePNV, Pixel scam detection, expanded SynthID, and new financial app protections. |
| Which apps support the screen-sharing scam alert feature? |
| The pilot covers Google Pay, Navi, and Paytm on Android 11 and above. |
| What is ePNV, and how is it different from OTP? |
| ePNV is a SIM-based verification system replacing SMS OTPs, offering higher security. |
| Does Pixel’s scam detection store audio? |
| No. It performs real-time detection on-device without storing or sending audio. |
| Is Play Protect blocking harmful apps? |
| Yes, over 115 million sideloaded harmful app attempts were blocked. |
| Who can access Google’s SynthID tool now? |
| Academia, researchers, and selected media organisations. |
| Is ePNV mandatory for all apps? |
| Not yet; currently in rollout and testing phases. |
| Do these features require specific Android versions? |
| Screen-sharing alerts need Android 11+; other features vary. |
Google’s new India-focused AI safety updates significantly strengthen digital trust and protect users against rising cyber threats. With features like screen-sharing scam alerts, OTP-free secure verification, Pixel scam detection, and SynthID watermarking, Google is building a safer AI-powered ecosystem for millions. Users are encouraged to stay updated through official Google announcements and ensure their devices run the latest Android security patches for maximum protection.
