How Scientists Are Using AI to Talk to Animals

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February 07, 2023

Humans cannot communicate directly with the natural world—our bodies are unable to detect or reproduce all of the signals that make up animal "language," from a bat's ultrasonic squeaks to a honeybee's vibrating movements. But technology can. Researchers are using portable sensors to continuously observe how animals produce these signs and artificial intelligence to figure out what they mean—and then using computers and robots to "talk" back. Read more in this week's lead story!

Sophie Bushwick, Associate Editor, Technology @sophiebushwick

Animals How Scientists Are Using AI to Talk to Animals Portable sensors and artificial intelligence are helping researchers decode animal communication—and begin to talk back to nonhumans By Sophie Bushwick

Defense Chinese Spy Balloon Has Unexpected Maneuverability An expert explains why it's so odd that the suspected Chinese spy balloon can change course By Sophie Bushwick

Artificial Intelligence Mystery Portrait May Be a Raphael, Artificial Intelligence Suggests A mysterious portrait of the Virgin Mary and Jesus may have been painted by the master Raphael, facial recognition finds. But many art historians reject the claim By Tom Metcalfe

Privacy FBI Takes Down Hive Criminal Ransomware Group A cybersecurity expert explains how the FBI's operation against the ransomware group Hive will impact the rest of this criminal industry By Sophie Bushwick

Climate Change More Airports to Use Greener 'Glide' Approach to Landing A growing number of U.S. airports are trying swoop landings rather than staircase descents, a method that saves fuel, cuts emissions and reduces noise By Minho Kim,E&E News

Astronomy Satellite Constellations Are an Existential Threat for Astronomy Growing swarms of spacecraft in orbit are outshining the stars, and scientists fear no one will do anything to stop it By Rebecca Boyle

Arts Death, Sex and Aliens: A Surprising History of Slime Sublime slime, sprawling light pollution, harnessing the bioelectricity in our body, and more books out this month By Amy Brady

Artificial Intelligence Coming Soon to Your Podcast Feed: Science, Quickly A new era in Scientific American audio history is about to drop starting next week—get ready for a science variety show guaranteed to quench your curiosity in under 10 minutes. By Jeffery DelViscio,Tulika Bose | 04:10

QUOTE OF THE DAY "From the time the ancient Sumerians started making sausage around 4,000 years ago, the process has been the province of artisans dedicated to the craft of preserving meat so it remained safe to eat for as long as possible. Yet even traditional methods can stand to be improved on from time to time. [A German sausage-maker] has retained ancient customs such as the clay chambers in which Ahle sausages ripen while also fine-tuning the conditions under which the meats are cured (such as temperature and moisture level) via AI algorithms." Willie Jones, IEEE Spectrum

FROM THE ARCHIVE Yes, We Can Communicate with Animals But only in limited ways because our brains are so fundamentally different By Denise D. Cummins | August 2017

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