Will Artificial Intelligence Help Us Talk to Animals?

Artificial intelligence has made remarkable progress in recent years, but can it help us talk to animals? Explore the possibilities and limitations of AI in communicating with other species.

By Joshua Rapp Learn
Jun 17, 2023 1:00 PM
Wild Asian elephant mother and calf in Corbett National Park, India
Wild Asian elephant mother and calf in Corbett National Park, India. (Credit: Mogens Trolle/Shutterstock)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

When beluga whales communicate with one another, certain vocalization cues reveal their social structures. When meerkats face an approaching predator, they use a complicated set of alarm calls depending on how close and dangerous it is.

And in the skies, birds also communicate danger — along with things like mating status — to others in their flock.  

Now, scientists are harnessing the power of machine learning to build a program that can decipher all these forms of animal communication, and more, by analyzing huge data sets.

“Everything we understand about animal signals so far comes from the geniuses that observed them,” says Katie Zacarian, cofounder and CEO of the Earth Species Project (ESP), a nonprofit organization working on creating this tool. “We know that it will dramatically accelerate the field of ethology and animal welfare.”


0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.