Japan now has a virtual AI police chief, and she is on a mission to stop scammers. Osaka Prefecture introduced “AIko,” whose name blends “AI” with a common ending for Japanese female names, after a rise in imposter scams. She has the voice and look of a young woman and warns the public through the prefectural police’s YouTube channel. Police hope she will raise awareness, especially among younger people. AIko cautions that scams are hitting not just the elderly but also people in their 20s to 60s, with victims tricked by crooks posing as police officers, celebrities promoting investments, or romantic partners.
She debuted in a clip in late May, showing real examples of scam tactics and exchanges between scammers and victims. In one video, she reminds people that real officers never show IDs or arrest warrants online. Last year, people 64 or younger made up nearly half of such victims in the prefecture. Toshinori Hirano, a visiting professor who helped create AIko, said he hopes to boost crime prevention awareness using technology…and a fake police chief.
Source: Mainichi
