In an effort to fight phone scams, British mobile phone company O2 has introduced Daisy, an AI designed to engage phone con artists in time-wasting conversations. Daisy is portrayed as a kindly British granny, exploiting scammers’ tendency to target the elderly. Her voice, based on a real grandmother’s for authenticity, adds to her credibility in the role.
“O2” has distributed several dedicated phone numbers online to direct scammers to Daisy instead of actual customers. When Daisy receives a call, she translates the scammers’ spoken words into text and then responds to them accordingly through a text-to-speech system. Remarkably, Daisy has managed to keep numerous con artists on calls for up to 40 minutes, effectively keeping them occupied and away from potential victims.
為了打擊電話詐騙，英國電信業者O2 推出了黛西，這是一款人工智慧，設計來讓電話詐騙犯參與浪費時間的對話。黛西被塑造成一位親切和藹的英國奶奶，這是利用了詐騙犯傾向於針對老年人的情形。為求真實，黛西的聲音原型是一位真人奶奶的聲音，這增加了黛西在這個角色中的可信度。
Photo: AdobeStock 照片： AdobeStock
O2 在網路上散播了幾組黛西專用的電話號碼，將詐騙犯導向黛西，而不是他們真正的客戶。黛西接到電話時，她會將詐騙者所說的話轉成文本，接著透過文字轉語音的系統做出相應的回覆。驚人的是，黛西已經成功讓眾多詐騙犯持續通話長達四十分鐘，有效讓他們保持忙碌並遠離潛在的受害者。
What Did You Learn?
1. What is the reason behind Daisy’s image as a grandmother?
Photo: CNA 照片： 中央社
參考答案
1. To exploit scammers’ tendency to target the elderly.
Words in Use
1. portray vt. 描繪，描寫
be portrayed as... 被塑造∕刻劃∕描繪成……
The villain in the movie was portrayed as a tragic figure.
那部電影裡的壞人被刻劃成悲劇性的人物。
2. tendency n. 傾向
Evan has a tendency to speak his mind, even if it upsets others.
伊凡傾向於說出心裡的想法，就算會惹人生氣也一樣。
Practical Phrases
1. take down sb / take sb down
阻止某人造成傷害，擊敗某人
The team attempted to take down their biggest rival.
那支隊伍試圖擊敗他們最大的對手。
2. engage sb in... 使某人參與……
The teacher tried to engage the students in the discussion.
那位老師試著要讓學生們參與討論。
To be continued tomorrow（明日待續）
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
A: Apart from megahit “KPop Demon Hunters,” what else is worth watching? B: The new shows featuring four top-tier actors – Xiao Zhan, Wang Yibo, Yang Yang and Li Xian — are all popular. A: Yang’s TV drama, “The Immortal Ascension,” is definitely one of the summer sizzlers. Some praise it as the Eastern edition of the glorious “Harry Potter” series. B: Yeah, the costume fantasy drama is about a young man’s journey to immortality. All the magic powers and magical tools in the show are just stunning. A: Let me go stream it now. I wanna
An automated human washing machine was one of the highlights at the Osaka Kansai Expo, giving visitors a glimpse into the future of personal hygiene technology. As part of the event, 1,000 randomly selected visitors were given the chance to try out this cleansing system. The machine operates as a capsule-like chamber where warm water filled with microscopic bubbles gently washes away dirt. The 15-minute process also includes a drying phase, removing the need for users to dry themselves manually. Equipped with advanced sensors, the device monitors the user’s biological data, such as their pulse, to adjust water temperature and other settings
Britain’s National Gallery announced on Sept. 9 that it will use a whopping ￡375m (US$510m) in donations to open a new wing that, for the first time, will include modern art. Founded in 1824, the gallery has amassed a centuries-spanning collection of Western paintings by artists from Leonardo da Vinci to J.M.W Turner and Vincent van Gogh — but almost nothing created after the year 1900. The modern era has been left to other galleries, including London’s Tate Modern. That will change when the gallery opens a new wing to be constructed on land beside its Trafalgar Square site that is currently
Firefighters might face an increased risk of developing “glioma,” a type of brain cancer, due to certain chemicals encountered on the job. A recent study analyzed glioma cases and found clear connections between the genetic patterns of affected firefighters and their exposure to these harmful substances. The study found that firefighters exhibited significantly higher levels of specific mutational signatures in their glioma cells compared to individuals in other occupations. These signatures — unique patterns of genetic changes in DNA — help scientists trace the source of mutations. Earlier research has associated these mutations with certain chemicals found in fire
RSS