Nairobi — Airtel Kenya has rolled out a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered spam detection system designed to protect its mobile subscribers from fraudulent and unsolicited SMS messages.

The service, which is available at no extra cost to users, automatically flags suspicious content and alerts customers in real time.

The tool uses AI algorithms to scan over 250 parameters such as message frequency, sender patterns, and geographical distribution to classify texts as suspected spam.

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Once flagged, messages are labelled accordingly on users' devices to alert them of potential threats or scams.

Airtel says the system processes more than 18 million SMS messages every day, with analysis taking place in under two milliseconds.

It also features a URL filtering component that warns users of harmful or blacklisted web links embedded in SMS messages.

This move comes amid growing concern over the rise in mobile-based fraud in Kenya, where increased phone penetration has made consumers more vulnerable to scams.

Mobile users regularly report receiving misleading promotional content or deceptive messages prompting them to share sensitive personal information.

Until now, customers have largely relied on third-party apps or manual blocking to manage unwanted messages.

The new tool adds to a broader trend of telecom companies integrating AI into customer protection systems.

It also highlights a shift towards embedding security at the network level rather than through user-end applications.