Google Chrome, the world’s most popular browser, is testing new artificial intelligence-powered tool designed to help protect users from scammers and other bad acts. Chrome will use artificial intelligence and an on-device big language model to analyse web pages and determine whether they are suspicious or fraudulent.
It’s unclear how the feature will work, but Chrome may issue warnings when an obvious scam website is visited. For example, if you visit a fake Microsoft tech support page that claims your computer is infected and asks you to call a number, Chrome’s AI will analyse the language or branding used on the page. If it detects scam tactics such as fake urgency or suspicious domain names, it will display a warning alerting you to avoid interacting with the page or sharing personal information.
The new option is available in the latest version of Chrome Canary, the version of Chrome that Google is using to test new experimental features. It’s not yet clear if it works, but it can be enabled. Type ‘chrome://flags’ in the address line and search for ‘client-side-detection-brand-and-page intent’ or scam, then click the ‘Default’ drop-down menu and select ‘Enabled’. The feature will be enabled when you restart the browser.
