AI to the Rescue: Indian Startups Battle Deepfake Spam Calls

The rise of humanlike spam calls

Spam calls in India have evolved beyond nuisance to real danger. Scammers now use cloned and synthetic voices that can mimic real people, tricking even cautious users. With many people receiving dozens of unwanted calls daily, the old blocklists and do not disturb modes no longer cut it.

What startups are building

Young companies such as Equal AI and SpiderX AI are developing systems that answer calls on your behalf, listen in, transcribe the conversation, and respond dynamically. These services act like virtual secretaries that can screen callers in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, and Hinglish. Equal AI, founded by Keshav Reddy, offers a free tier for now, which matters in a market where spam volumes are high and price sensitivity is real.

How the technology works in practice

Rather than simply blocking numbers, these AI systems analyze voice patterns, transcribe speech, and decide whether to forward the call or flag it as suspicious. For businesses, solutions like SpiderX AI are already gaining traction because they reduce time lost to low-value calls and protect employees from fraud. For consumers, the promise is a bot that can handle small talk and reveal intent without exposing you to risk.

AI versus AI: a constantly shifting battleground

As scammers deploy increasingly convincing voice clones, the defensive systems must adapt rapidly. Experts describe the situation as an AI versus AI arms race, where synthetic speech detectors are in continuous development to stay ahead of new spoofing methods. This dynamic creates both opportunity for fast innovation and pressure on detection models to perform accurately.

Trust, privacy and the regulatory gap

There are real concerns about handing your calls to an automated system that listens and responds. Users may worry about eavesdropping, data retention, and consent. Observers from outlets such as TechCrunch point to regulation and clear consent frameworks as the next major hurdles. Until rules and standards catch up, many will remain uneasy about delegating personal calls to machines.

Practical steps for users today

While startups refine their products and lawmakers consider rules, simple caution still helps. Avoid trusting unfamiliar voices no matter how convincing they sound, verify sensitive requests through independent channels, and consider trialing reputable screening services that prioritize privacy and transparency. AI can be a powerful shield, but you should choose tools that are clear about what they record and how they use data.