Studying Dog Communication with AI

Researchers at the University of Michigan are studying how artificial intelligence technology can be used to understand a dog’s communication, distinguishing playfulness or aggression and gathering information like age, breed, and sex from vocalizations. AI models trained on human speech are being repurposed to analyze animal vocalizations, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of animal communication.

African Savanna Elephants Using Individual Names

A new study reveals that African savanna elephants use individual names for each other, which they invent and recognize through specific vocalizations. Researchers used AI to analyze calls from two elephant herds in Kenya, showing that elephants can distinguish calls meant for them from those meant for others. Elephants do not merely imitate calls but create 'arbitrary' names for each other, indicating abstract thought abilities.