Key facts
- Savi Security has launched an app to protect consumers from AI-generated scams.
- The app screens texts, voicemails, and incoming calls for fraudulent content.
- A key feature is live call monitoring, where the app listens for scam indicators during a conversation.
- The company raised $7 million in seed funding, led by Acrew Capital.
- Savi Security offers a family plan for $8 per month or $63 annually.
Brothers Patrick and Ryan Coughlin, with backgrounds in cybersecurity and consumer tech, have launched Savi Security, a startup aimed at protecting consumers from sophisticated AI-generated scams. The company announced it has secured $7 million in seed funding, led by Acrew Capital, with participation from Magnify Ventures, TTCER, and Resolute Ventures.
The inspiration for Savi Security stemmed from a harrowing incident where Patrick Coughlin's mother received a convincing AI-generated kidnapping scam call. The scammer spoofed his sister's phone number and voice, demanding a ransom. Fortunately, his mother verified the situation and discovered it was a scam.
This experience highlighted how generative AI tools have lowered the barrier for cybercriminals to perpetrate highly sophisticated scams against ordinary individuals. Previously, such attacks required extensive research and specialized technology, making them primarily targets for enterprises and governments. Now, voice cloning and other AI capabilities are readily accessible, enabling widespread consumer fraud.
Savi Security's solution is a mobile app available on iOS and Android that screens texts, voicemails, and incoming calls for scam indicators. A standout feature is its live call monitoring, where the app acts as a listener during a suspicious phone conversation, identifying behavioral tells of a scam in progress. The company also previously launched a free website called Scam Wise, which has received over 50,000 submissions, providing valuable data to train its AI detection model.
The app is priced at $8 per month or $63 per year, with the plan covering an entire family and allowing the primary account holder to add multiple users. Savi Security's approach mirrors the use of AI by malicious actors, developing a new generation of anti-virus-like software that leverages real-time AI for defense.