The Documentary Podcast Digital Dolittles: Talking to the animals?
5 snips
Sep 19, 2025 
David Gruber, an evolutionary biologist and the mind behind the Cetacean Translation Initiative, explores the cutting-edge realm of bioacoustics. He discusses how AI is revolutionizing our understanding of dolphin whistles and sperm whale clicks. The conversation dives into the implications of translating animal communications and how it challenges our human-centric perspective. Gruber also highlights the role of sound in ecosystem restoration, emphasizing the significance of listening to the natural world and what it reveals about our place on the planet.
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Bat Detector Turns Phone Into Portal
- Kate Jones used a phone-connected ultrasonic detector to reveal bats' echolocation and social calls at Hampstead Heath.
- The device visualised calls as spectrograms and identified species via AI in real time.
Don’t Let Screens Replace Listening
- Combine visual spectrogram inspection with on-the-ground listening to retain ecological context.
- Don't rely solely on screen analysis; field listening reveals behaviourally relevant cues.
Train With Labeled Call Libraries
- Build large, labeled libraries of animal calls to train AI species classifiers reliably.
- Treat training like teaching voice recognition: pair spectrograms with verified labels for accuracy.
