General Discussion

doublethink

(7,301 posts) Mon Dec 22, 2025, 11:18 PM Dec 22

A.I. only needs 3 seconds to hear your voice and replicate it.

Soooooooooo ... if a relative calls you on the phone and asks for you to send them money in an emergency, meet you somewhere, do anything whatever. Think twice. Paranoia the Destroyer (Kinks) ha, but maybe it was Ozzy's ... "Paranoid" .., ?

Point being new 'scam' just started, very new of calls from scammer AI's replicating voices taken from social media videos, recordings whatever and calling you.

First defense against this is come up with a secret question for you and your relatives, friends etc. that AI wouldn't know the answer to, and make sure it's them. Make sure you discuss this question with them in person beforehand and not online or text or phone etc ... Just a heads up.

In conclusion, I never answer my phone if I don't recognize the number. Let it go to voice mail otherwise. I'm 67 and thought I'd seen it all. No wonder hermit life, unplugged, off the grid always appealed to me. Maybe it's time? Geesh. Stay safe DU and Happy Holidays! Goodnight.

4 replies

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Highlight:

A.I. only needs 3 seconds to hear your voice and replicate it. (Original Post) doublethink Dec 22 OP

"Ah ee ooh" unblock Dec 22 #1

A few years back, I read that voice recognition could be used for security protocols. John1956PA Dec 23 #2

Probably can replicate the tone with a 3 second sample, but there's no way it would fool someone who knows you well AZJonnie Dec 23 #3

And what if it's somebody legit calling you back about something about your medical care? raccoon Dec 23 #4

unblock

(55,923 posts)

1. "Ah ee ooh"

Reply to doublethink (Original post)

Mon Dec 22, 2025, 11:44 PM

Dec 22

A college friend who was a linguist used to leave this as an answering machine message, claiming those 3 vowel sounds were all you needed to hear to uniquely recognize a voice. So it was her shorthand for "you know who this is, please call me back."

It worked, though hardly a fair test as all her friends knew that only she would leave a message like that!

John1956PA

(4,817 posts)

2. A few years back, I read that voice recognition could be used for security protocols.

Reply to doublethink (Original post)

Tue Dec 23, 2025, 02:55 AM

Dec 23

The premise is that one's voice print is just as unique as their palm and iris prints. I wonder if AI replication of a voice print could fool such a security protocol.

AZJonnie

(2,817 posts)

3. Probably can replicate the tone with a 3 second sample, but there's no way it would fool someone who knows you well

Reply to doublethink (Original post)

Tue Dec 23, 2025, 04:00 AM

Dec 23

It would need a much larger sample to hear the ways you inflect words in conversation, which is every bit an important as the frequency/tone. And then there's speaking style, including things like your use of vocabulary. In 3 seconds it can't determine if you speak at the level of someone barely literate, or a Ph.D.

So, yeah, it's a little scary esp. if used to misrepresent you publicly, but I'm a lot more worried what it could do with 3 MINUTES of you talking, than what it can with 3 seconds, put it like that.

raccoon

(32,211 posts)

4. And what if it's somebody legit calling you back about something about your medical care?

Reply to doublethink (Original post)

Tue Dec 23, 2025, 05:19 AM

Dec 23

sometimes that happens.

I reckon it would be better for them to text or put it on your Mychart.

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