Animal Whisperers

Will we, and should we, talk to animals?

What if your dog could talk to you? Or your cat? What about a dolphin? Humans have long dreamed of communicating with other species, much like Dr Dolittle or Mowgli in The Jungle Book. This dream may soon become reality as advances in artificial intelligence open up new possibilities, albeit with some ethical concerns about potential interference with nature.

Historically, researchers have used visual symbols to exchange messages with other species, teaching chimpanzees to understand pictograms or gorillas to use sign language. 

Koko, a gorilla involved in one of these studies, was taught to communicate basic words and concepts using American Sign Language as part of research conducted in the 1970s. Reportedly, she could express emotions such as love and sadness, and even make jokes.

Her abilities, however, remain controversial within the scientific community — critics argue that she did not have the complex grasp of grammar and syntax needed to demonstrate a true understanding of language. 

Some have suggested that Koko had simply been conditioned through rewards to use certain signs, without really understanding their meaning. Nevertheless, Koko became world-famous, attracting visits from celebrities such as Robin Williams and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Today, research is turning towards audio-based communication by analysing recordings of animal sounds to map their patterns. One such example is the Cetacean Translation Initiative (Project CETI), based in Dominica. Their work focuses on interpreting the clicks produced by sperm whales, which occur in sequences called “codas.” 

Sperm whales move in groups of seven or eight members, with each group belonging to a larger “clan.” These clans tend to have their own subtly distinct codas employed for communication, sort of like a dialect. Researchers at Project CETI trained a machine learning model on audio recordings from the local clan, identifying 156 communication codas and gaining vital clues about when the whales use the different sounds and what these might mean.

Another AI-enhanced initiative is the Earth Species Project, which is developing sophisticated computer models focused not on just one species but a wide range, aiming to become a general interpreter for animal communication. It has already tested a model capable of recognising different species and picking out individuals from audio recordings of their sounds.

But what about actually speaking back to wildlife? Currently, we are getting better and better at listening, and some scientists believe it’s only a matter of time before we can generate our own responses. For now, though, the main focus is translating what we hear, with the hope that it could aid conservation efforts. For example, perhaps we would be more motivated to reduce harmful industrial fishing practices if we could hear the complaints of the creatures beneath the waves.

So, no Google Translating English to Dolphin just yet. That may be for the best, though.. It’s easy to imagine that, if developed, this sort of technology could be abused. Think tour boats playing fake whale sounds to increase their chances of sightings or safari guides impersonating mating calls to lure rare wildlife out of hiding. 

Critics of animal communication studies argue that there is little need for us to speak to animals, as the animals themselves stand to gain little from such interactions. Instead, we may end up disrupting their ways of life and introducing confusion and distress. 

You might be disappointed to hear you can’t converse with a cow or chat with a sheep for now, but what would you even say to an animal if you had the chance? They would probably have far more to say to us: save for maybe your cat or dog, I somehow doubt they will have positive feedback for humanity.

Image from Wikimedia Commons