The rapid and continuing advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have transformed various facets of human communication via automated language translation, personalized interactions, sentiment analysis, etc.
It is a mainstream AI application that eliminates potential communication barriers between humans who speak different languages. AI experts are now trying to eliminate communication barriers between humans and animals by decoding animal sounds. If you’re curious about AI’s potential to facilitate human-animal communication, read the full article until the end.
Interpreting Animal Communications with AI
According to Earth Species Project (ESP) CEO and co-founder Katie Zacarian, we’re moving towards a world where two-way communication between humans and animals is highly likely.
ESP is a non-profit California-based organization that has been working for years to design advanced Machine Learning (ML) systems capable of decoding animal communication. They identify patterns in behavioral ecology research to interpret what animals might be trying to say. Their Machine Learning (ML) systems analyze large data sets comprising physical, oral, and visual animal communications.
Process of Decoding Animal Sounds
Researchers are analyzing gigantic amounts of animal communication data collected via sophisticated sensors and recording devices that can work in previously inaccessible habitats like mountains and seas.
Some are partnering with ecological institutions to source relevant data collections. Once the data is gathered, AI can be used as a pattern recognition machine to further the process. AI-powered analysis of bioacoustics, ecoacoustics, and other datasets can create a baseline for machine learning classification and detection performance.
Facilitating Communications Across all Species
AI algorithms can decode animal communication by analyzing recordings of various species, including elephants, birds, domesticated cats, honey bees, etc.
While AI can decode sounds from multiple species, the results derived from cetacean communication are the most promising. Specialized AI algorithms are being developed to interpret pig sounds to alert farmers about their well-being. These algorithms will decode pig’s oinks, grunts, and squeals to reveal their positive or negative emotions. Similar algorithms are being created to decode communications from different species.
Previous Experiment Results
Scientists have been working to decode animal communication for years, and some efforts have delivered remarkable results.
For instance, audio recordings were used to identify new blue whale species in the Indian Ocean. One AI finding revealed that each blue whale population has a distinct vocal signature. It can help distinguish and monitor different acoustic groups or populations.
Interesting Findings from Decoding Animal Sounds
There is a lively world around us that humans cannot explore because of the limitations of our senses. However, AI has no such restrictions. AI has been used to conduct various experiments where researchers tried to decode what specific species tried to communicate. Some researchers shared amusing findings with the world.
For instance, it was revealed that elephants call each other by unique names, male spiders do elaborate dances on inaudible songs to attract female spiders during mating season, vervet monkeys have specific calls for eagles and leopards, and bees can train one another to solve a complicated puzzle that wasn’t possible for a single bee.
Rising Ethical Concerns and Dangers
While the human-animal communication concept can seem intriguing to many, it also raises grave ethical concerns and dangers for all animals. Some believe that this technology, in the wrong hands, can be used to harm animals. For instance, hunters may use AI to lure animals for profit or playing back decoded sounds to animals can cause distress among some species.
Rodríguez-Garavito, founding director of the More Than Human Rights (MOTH) Project, raises concerns about the autonomy involved in the research process. Questions around animals’ consent on being recorded, recording being a harmful process for animals, the need to double-check whether the interpreted sound really means what researchers think it does, etc., are making some re-assess their approach.
Shaping Animal Rights with Animal Insights
Animals don’t have any legal rights because they’re distinguished from humans in sentience, consciousness, and intelligence. However, decoding animal communication can change it forever. Rodríguez-Garavito believes that recognizing animals’ capacity for language can upgrade their legal standing.
For instance, if whales can communicate the impact of ocean noise pollution on their well-being, their voices can become powerful evidence in legal cases advocating stricter regulations. This drastic shift could end the anthropocentric divide between animals and humans, instilling greater respect and protection needs for non-human species.
Proceeding with Guardrails and Governance
Humans have long been in constant communication with animals, especially the indigenous people, with tremendous wisdom. However, this communication got lost in transition as people started disassociating with nature. AI can help re-establish this connection, but it should not be done without strict ethical guardrails and governance.
Efforts are underway to develop an ethical framework by an interdisciplinary group of ethics specialists that will later be reviewed by anthropologists, indigenous leaders, and biologists. Organizations are expected to voluntarily adopt the guidelines so nature isn’t harmed in the process.
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