"Free AI Phishing Blocker"... LG Uplus Aims for 6 Million ixi-O Users in 3 Years

Building a Comprehensive Security System Before, During, and After Calls
Detecting Video Synthesis with Anti-DeepFake Technology
ixi-O Aims for 1 Million Users This Year, 6 Million Within Three Years
Adhering to On-Device Methods for Personal Information Protection

Jeon Byunggi, Executive Vice President and Head of AX Technology Group at LG Uplus, introducing the 4A strategy at a press briefing. Photo by LG Uplus

On June 26, LG Uplus announced that it will provide a security feature to block phishing damage free of charge through its artificial intelligence (AI) call service, ixi-O. The company also set a goal to secure 6 million ixi-O users within three years.

At a press briefing held on the same day, LG Uplus announced that it will launch the 'Anti-DeepVoice' technology, which was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in March, through ixi-O starting June 30. AI-generated machine voices are not detectable by the human ear, but due to abnormal high frequencies created during voice synthesis, they differ from real human voices. Anti-DeepVoice is a technology that enables AI to detect these differences in areas beyond human perception.

According to LG Uplus, this is the first time in the world that such technology has been commercialized in an on-device format. For this reason, the company focused on making Anti-DeepVoice lightweight. Because the technology operates solely on the device without passing through external servers, it must be built independently on each device while maintaining quality and performance, making lightweight optimization essential.

At the LG Uplus press briefing held at the LG Seoul Station Building on the 26th. Photo by Park Yujin

In the second half of the year, LG Uplus will expand its system to prevent voice phishing at every stage of a call. Before calls are connected, AI will analyze call patterns of reported voice phishing numbers to predict whether a number is risky and will notify users of suspected voice phishing numbers. Additionally, starting in August, the company will gradually introduce a service in which AI answers suspected spam and voice phishing calls on behalf of customers.

The company is also working with the National Forensic Service to develop AI technology capable of determining whether a reported voice phishing call matches a criminal's voice. This is currently being conducted as part of a regulatory sandbox demonstration program. After calls, LG Uplus plans to collaborate with banks to establish a joint monitoring system to ensure that customers who have received voice phishing calls do not actually transfer funds to fraudulent accounts.

On the same day, the company also revealed the development status of its video deepfake detection technology, 'Anti-DeepFake.' Han Youngseop, head of AI Tech Lab, warned, "Recently, in Hong Kong, there was a case where approximately 34 billion KRW was illegally transferred to fraudulent accounts via a video conference in which deepfake technology was used to impersonate an executive and actual employees. Deepfake technology now goes beyond simple pranks or synthesis and can lead to real financial crimes, social threats, and personal harm."

He explained, "The Anti-DeepFake technology analyzes abnormal patterns at the pixel level in photos and videos. Manipulated videos exhibit subtle distortions or noise, and we have developed an engine that detects these by training the AI engine to recognize such characteristics."

ixi-O expanded its support to Android Galaxy devices this May, after launching its iOS version in November last year. Choi Yunho, Executive Director and Head of AI Agent Business Group, stated, "Our goal for this year was 1 million users, and we believe this number will be easily achieved. Our target is to reach 6 million users within three years."

The company expressed a cautious stance regarding the monetization of ixi-O. Executive Director Choi said, "As a telecommunications company, security is a basic duty, so we do not plan to charge for these fundamental features. However, we may consider charging for additional convenience features provided by ixi-O in the future."

Jeon Byunggi, Executive Vice President and Head of AX Technology Group at LG Uplus, stated, "We aim to establish ourselves as the telecommunications company most committed to security, with the safest AI, through differentiated security technology."