Founder launches AI tool to combat deepfake voice scams after personal loss

Tarini Padmanabhuni, founder of DetectifAI, launched her company after a deepfake voice scam targeted her grandfather in 2024. The incident, where her grandfather was tricked into paying a ransom, left a lasting impact on her. Today, DetectifAI aims to prevent others from falling victim to similar scams. The company’s AI tool detects deepfake voices in real-time on smartphones, offering a built-in defense against AI-generated audio. Padmanabhuni explains that current detection tools rely on cloud-based systems, limiting their integration into devices. DetectifAI’s compact AI models, designed for smartphones, enable instant verification without data leaving the device. The startup is already generating revenue, handling over 100,000 calls monthly for Indian financial institutions. Padmanabhuni, who began working in machine learning at age 12, has raised seed funding from Josh Constine and Manohar Kamath. DetectifAI is also competing in TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield competition in San Francisco in October 2026. The FBI reported that Americans lost nearly $900 million to AI-driven scams in 2025, a 24% increase from 2024. People aged 60 and older were disproportionately affected, losing twice as much as those aged 50 to 59. DetectifAI’s software development kit (SDK) is being licensed to phone manufacturers, with the first to integrate the technology gaining a competitive edge. The company also plans to license its technology to businesses and fraud-prevention firms. Padmanabhuni declined to name customers, citing confidentiality agreements.