Google has introduced advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to safeguard Gmail’s 2.5 billion users from a surge in holiday-season scams, the company revealed in a blog post on Wednesday.
As phishing, spam, and malware attacks intensify during the shopping season beginning in mid-November, the tech giant emphasized its commitment to keeping inboxes secure. “With more than 2.5 billion users, Gmail is the world’s largest email provider, and we know how important it is to keep inboxes everywhere safe,” the company stated.
While Gmail blocks over 99.9% of spam, phishing, and malware attempts year-round, Google acknowledged the heightened threat during the holidays. New AI-powered security features launched in the past year have shown significant impact, reducing scam emails by 35% this season compared to last year.
These enhancements enabled Gmail to block millions of additional harmful messages before they reached users. At the core of these improvements are advanced AI models, including a cutting-edge large language model (LLM) specifically designed to detect phishing, spam, and malware patterns. This LLM has enhanced Gmail’s spam detection capabilities by blocking 20% more spam and processing 1,000 times more user-reported spam daily.
In preparation for the holiday shopping rush, Google deployed a supervisory AI model ahead of Black Friday. This system analyzes hundreds of threat signals in real time to strengthen Gmail’s defenses. “Our AI systems work behind the scenes to protect billions of inboxes, adapting quickly as attackers adjust their methods,” the company explained.
Despite these robust measures, Google cautioned that scammers continuously evolve their tactics during high-activity periods. “We typically see a second wave of attacks around this time in the holiday season as attackers adjust and try new things,” Google warned.
To further protect users, Google urged vigilance and recommended reporting suspicious emails as spam or phishing. “It’s equally important for you to stay ahead of scams,” the blog post advised.
