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Voice AI or Voice Scam? The Tech That Multiplies Intent

Take bone graft implants. It’s amazing how we can restore mobility using advancements in grafting technology, such as hip replacements. Did you know that bone is the second most transplanted tissue after blood in Australia? (ABC, 2025). That’s tech at its best – restoring dignity and movement.

That was me, cutting cadaver femoral heads off donated human femurs in a lab with scientists, preparing implants to help rehabilitate Australians with severe arthritis.

Figure 1- Australian Biotechnologies - Femoral Head

I went from being a tax accountant to working in the only bone grafting business in the country at the time. Someone once said to me, “there’s money in the muck,” and mate – let me tell you… they were right.

As much as I loved balance sheets, my ADHD (which I learned about later) nudged me down a different path – and eventually, to Teddie. When COVID hit in 2020, I started to question why I was preparing tax returns in my basement when my real curiosity had always been in tech and building things.

From the Bone Lab to Cybersecurity

Eventually, the opportunity of the “bone lab,” as my father called it, popped its head out: shorter hours, working with scientists and engineers, and making things that tangibly helped people. It was a glimpse into how technology can amplify human capability.

That curiosity then led me deeper into the world of cybersecurity. I spent time working on the human side of the problem – helping organisations recognise when they were being manipulated, preparing staff for the tricks that criminals use every day.

It was eye-opening. On one hand, I was part of the defence, reducing the impact of technology being used against people. But at the same time, I could see the attackers growing stronger. AI was multiplying their reach, making scams more polished, more targeted, and harder to spot.

And that’s the fork in the road where technology reveals its true nature: it doesn’t lean good or bad – it just multiplies whichever side you give it to.

Voice AI vs. Voice Phishing: The Evil Twins

Fast forward to today, and we now sit at a strange crossroads. On one hand, Australians are embracing voice AI assistants on a massive scale. By the end of 2024, there were 8.4 billion devices in use globally (Big Sur AI). Closer to home, Australia’s conversational AI market was worth USD 380.8 million in 2024, and is projected to hit USD 5.75 billion by 2033, reflecting a staggering 31.2% compound growth rate (IMARC).

On the other hand, voice phishing (vishing) is exploding. CrowdStrike reported a 442% increase in vishing attacks in Australia between the first and second half of 2024 (CrowdStrike via AICD). Even scarier, these operations are compounding at a 40% monthly growth rate (Mobile ID World). These attacks involved a fake helpdesk call to encourage password changes.

Figure 2- VISHING detections

Australia has already been recognised as a top 10 source of phishing globally, with 30M+ attacks in 2024 (Adelaide Now). Zscaler also reported a 60% year-on-year jump in AI-driven phishing globally, with phishing content hosted in Australia spiking 479.3%.

So the same technology that lets a tradie book jobs hands-free is also being used to clone a CEO’s voice and trick an accounts officer into paying a fake invoice. One is built to serve; the other to exploit.

Technology as the Great Amplifier

This is the dichotomy I live in every day.

From “bone man” to “voice AI guy,” I’ve seen both sides of what technology can do.

  • For the orthopaedic patient, it amplifies healing.
  • For the scammer, it amplifies deception.
  • For the small business, it amplifies capacity.

And here’s the truth: the same AI that powers Siri or Google Assistant is now being weaponised into the voices of your boss, your bank, or your best mate. What once took criminals weeks to prepare now takes them minutes.

But the flip side? Defenders can fight fire with fire. Gmail’s AI already blocks ~15 billion malicious emails every single day with 99.9% accuracy (Google). Voice AI itself can be harnessed to screen calls, authenticate users, and protect people from the nastier edge of social engineering.

Closing Thought

The question is no longer whether technology is “good” or “bad.”

The question is: what will you choose to multiply?

That’s why we build AI voice solutions, not to replace humans, but to amplify the good they do – to make sure the helpers grow faster than the impostors.

If you’re looking to implement a voice assistant into your business, please do not hesitate to contact us at hello@teddie.io. Or contact Nick on 0415034493.

You can also visit us at www.teddie.io

Nick Baker

About the Author

Nick Baker is the Founder of Teddie.io, Australia’s homegrown AI receptionist SaaS.

With a career journey spanning accounting, business, and cybersecurity, Nick founded Teddie in early 2025 after recognising the rapid adoption of voice AI technologies across small and medium businesses.

Over the past decade, he has consulted with hundreds of Australian SMBs as well as government departments, helping them adopt and secure new technologies.

Nick’s focus is on combining security-first principles with strategic business outcomes, ensuring organisations can embrace AI with confidence.

Under his leadership, Teddie continues to innovate at the intersection of AI, SaaS, and business automation, enabling clients to unlock efficiency while staying protected against emerging risks.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Business (Accounting & Marketing Majors)

Diploma of International Business

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