Airtel launches Africa’s first AI spam alert system in Kenya

Airtel Kenya has introduced a new tool that will help customers protect themselves from fraudulent and suspicious SMS messages by using Artificial Intelligence.

The spam alert service, now active on all Airtel lines at no extra cost, is the first of its kind in Africa and marks a major step in the fight against rising mobile scams.

The newly launched service works by scanning incoming text messages using AI without accessing their content.

Instead, it relies on over 250 indicators such as how often messages are sent and the behaviour patterns of the sender.

With the ability to process more than 18 million messages instantly, the system is designed to detect and reduce phishing attempts, spam, and misleading promotional texts before they reach users.

Airtel Kenya Managing Director Ashish Malhotra said the innovation was built with customer safety and experience in mind.

"At Airtel, for us, customer feedback and experience are at the centre of our business solutions and decisions and strategies. We are firm believers that we are only as good as our customer experiences. In light of that, we endeavour to provide our customers with the best possible products," he said.

The tool arrives at a time when many Kenyans are falling victim to spam messages, some of which are designed to steal personal information or trick users into sending money.

The growing threat has become so serious that the national regulator had to step in last year.

"SMS scams have become a growing menace. Last year, the problem became so pronounced that the authority had to issue an alert to Kenyans to take caution while receiving messages," said Communications Authority of Kenya Director General David Mugonyi.

The alert system offers users a chance to report suspicious SMS messages in real time, allowing the AI to learn and improve its accuracy.

This feedback loop is expected to strengthen Airtel’s efforts to secure its network against digital threats.

The announcement also drew praise from the ICT and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo, who said the move puts Kenya ahead of many other African countries in embracing smart technology for public safety.

"This is the first such AI-driven service from a system in Africa, and Kenya is proud to be the first country in the continent where it has been deployed. Internationally similar technologies have been implemented in countries such as India, where telecom regulators and mobile operators have collaborated to use AI and machine learning to combat SMS fraud," said Kabogo.

With this step, Airtel Kenya hopes to lead the way in applying technology to improve customer protection, while also positioning Kenya as a key player in AI solutions tailored for local needs.