Click Here AI and the secret lives of whales
Jul 22, 2025
Michelle Fournay is a marine biologist passionate about decoding humpback whale communication using AI. She shares fascinating insights into how technology is revolutionizing our understanding of whale vocalizations. Discover how humpback whales use sophisticated sound patterns for hunting and socializing. Fournay also discusses the challenges of analyzing these intricate calls amid background noise and the deep emotional bonds humans share with these majestic creatures. This conversation highlights the potential for AI to bridge the gap between human and whale communication.
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Early Whale Listening Efforts
- Michelle Fournay started recording humpback whale calls using simple methods with interns and underwater microphones from a small boat.
- They logged data by hand during hours of listening, amid waves and whale sounds, despite it being tedious.
Whale Conversations Feel Like Space
- Whale communication involves exchanges that might resemble greetings or interactions between individuals.
- Listening feels like tuning into outer space signals without context, sparking interest in deciphering the meaning.
Solving the Ocean Cocktail Party
- The underwater "cocktail party problem" involves isolating individual whale calls from overlapping ocean noises.
- Machines need to be trained to separate voices, which is key to recognizing distinct whale communications.