FT Tech Tonic Can AI help us speak to animals? Part two
11 snips
Sep 19, 2023 Scientists discuss the potential for humans to 'translate' animal and plant sounds using AI, exploring the ethics of human-to-animal communication. They delve into the research of studying bat vocalizations using AI, as well as the risks and ethical concerns of communicating with animals. The podcast also explores the limitations and potential benefits of AI in understanding animal communication, and how Indigenous communities cultivate their listening capacities.
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Whale's 'Hello' Playback Encounter
- Azer shared a story about playing a whale's own 'hello' recording back to it, creating a strange, psychedelic encounter.
- This example highlights the ethical dilemmas in human interactions with animal communication.
Power Imbalance in Animal Talks
- Humans face an inherent power imbalance when trying to communicate with animals.
- We can't truly know the consequences of interfering with ancient animal cultures like whales'.
Sonic Fences Keep Elephants Safe
- Elephants fear bees and have a specific warning call for them.
- Scientists created sonic fences playing recorded bee warning calls to safely repel elephants from farms.