Can we talk to animals? AI revives an old question
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Scientists around the world are using artificial intelligence to analyze the sounds of whales, bats, elephants, and other species, hoping to discern patterns that could reveal animal communication.
Researchers from institutions including the University of New York and MIT are deploying drones to record sperm whale vocalizations, known as codas, believing these complex clicks may function as a form of language.
These whales possess large brains and have developed communication methods over 30 million years, potentially holding a culture distinct from our own. The use of AI represents a shift in approach. For decades, many believed animal communication and human language were fundamentally different, with some arguing animals lack the capacity for human-like language. However, new language models are now being applied to animal vocalizations, allowing scientists to analyze large datasets and identify previously unnoticed complexities.
Studies of bats, for example, reveal they address specific individuals, express needs for food and shelter, and even exhibit regional “dialects.” Researchers are also examining elephants, discovering they use distinct sounds to address particular members of their herd. While past attempts to teach animals human language proved unsuccessful due to a human-centered approach, the current focus is on understanding existing animal communication systems.
The most promising candidates for complex communication currently appear to be cetaceans, especially sperm whales, though the role of AI in translation remains a challenge, potentially creating a three-way conversation between humans, animals, and the technology itself.
