If you’ve ever sworn your dog’s “woof!” for food sounds different from their”bow wow” to go for a walk, you’re probably right! Animals convey wants and needs through various communication tactics, including body language, sounds, chemicals, and touch. Communication helps them care for their young, coordinate in groups, defend against threats, and find mating partners.
As humans, we’ve always desired to talk with and deepen our relationships with our furry friends. The latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) puts us that much closer to communicating with animals.
While we are still far off from debating the Superbowl half-time show with our pets, AI is creating new ways to understand animal communication, which could help with conservation efforts, spark research and development, and allow us to improve animals’ health and well-being.
History of Animal-Human Communications
Humans and animals are closely intertwined throughout history — from sled dogs warming Eskimos on the coldest nights to more familiar scenes of chimps performing sign language. From the earliest domestication of dogs, humans and animals learned to work together through tone of voice, basic commands, and instinctual cues to form mutually beneficial relationships — often food and shelter in exchange for protection and work.
Now, AI is revolutionizing research and communication strategies with animals. Advances are paving the way for not only decoding animal-to-animal communication, like in whale pods or lion packs, but also allowing researchers to understand animal sounds.
How AI-powered Interspecies Communication Work
So, precisely what does this technology look like in real life? It comes in the form of wearable devices, underwater touch pads, monitoring or tracking devices like smart tags, or bio-acoustic systems that translate animal vocalizations into readable text. Edge devices that make up the Internet of Things (IoT) collect, aggregate, and analyze massive amounts of data. The data collected from these devices are further processed and analyzed by intuitive AI.
For instance, a breakthrough algorithm analyzed 52 million Sealife “clicks” from near-seafloor sound sensors across the Gulf of Mexico to track wild dolphin populations, their movements, and the potential effects of environmental change on their pod structures1. Additionally, these data-based sensors help marine conservation, pollutant reduction, and ecosystem monitoring.
However, AI’s impact on understanding animal communication isn’t limited to the ocean. On land, researchers are leveraging similar technologies to decode the sounds and behaviors of various species. Here are some notable examples:
Wildlife Acoustics
Wildlife Acoustics audio equipment uses passive ultrasonic recorders and sound analysis software to monitor ecosystems, support species conservation, and perform animal behavior studies and environmental impact assessments2.
This enables continuous monitoring, making it easier to detect elusive or endangered species without disturbing their habitat, compromising data accuracy, or being limited by the logistical challenges of conducting frequent site visits.
Zoolingua
Zoolingua is developing a sophisticated algorithm for translating dog language to human speech3. Based on the research of Dr. Con Slobodchikoff, an animal behaviorist who studied the social behavior and communications systems of prairie dogs since the mid 1980’s.
Zoolingua analyzes dog vocalizations and behaviors in specific contexts using video, then applies advanced computer programs to classify these complex communications, effectively decoding and translating them into English.
Benefits of Interspecies AI Communication Technology
The benefits of interspecies AI communication go way beyond learning if your dog likes steak or chicken better. Talking and listening to animals could power never-before-seen breakthroughs in other areas. A better understanding could help conservation efforts, animal health and well-being, and further research and development.
Never-Before-Seen Breakthroughs
Successful interspecies communication could open up a world of possibilities that feel like they fringe on science fiction. It could open up doors to underwater exploration, discovering new animal species, and more.
24/7 Monitoring for Animal Health and Well-Being
Tools like DeepSqueak, a machine learning algorithm capable of categorizing animal vocalizations, help play a crucial role in monitoring animal stress indicators.4 Humans can better distinguish between happiness and stress, anger and sadness, and other emotions for improved animal health and well-being.
Plus, AI-enabled devices allow for 24/7 automated monitoring instead of relying on human observation, capturing more nuanced communication and situations that might’ve been previously missed. Existing pet health monitors are already improving the lives of household pets with interactive toys, smart collars, and health trackers.
Pattern Identification in Movement and Sounds for Further Research
New technologies for certain animals are more easily translated into other species’ communication. For example, DeepSqueak began as a rodent communication tool but extended to analyze the communication patterns of lemurs and whales. These tools can be paired with movement and behavioral AI solutions for a 360° view of animal behavior.
Improved Conservation Efforts
The Earth Science Project is an example of leveraging AI for conservation and humanitarian efforts. Animal sounds are recorded, and then a computer processes them in real-time to respond. This turns into a large audio language model for animal sounds and has received nearly $17 million in grants for research and development in conservation and habitat rehabilitation.5
Limitations of AI in Understanding and Translating Animal Language
While most interspecies communication aims to deepen relationships with animals, there is always the unfortunate potential for misuse and harm. Trainers and researchers need ethical training on new AI communication systems and extensive knowledge of animals’ natural behaviors and welfare to avoid accidental behavior manipulation or undue stress.
Misuse and Behavior Manipulation
With a better understanding of animal behavior and communication comes the potential for humans to misuse this information to manipulate animals or force them into unnatural situations. Misuse of animal communication AI could unethically turn their behavior into entertainment or cause them stress or harm in some way.
One-Way Communication
Even if humans can decode animal language, can they ever understand us? One-way communication is a potential limitation when humans are unable to communicate back. New advancements in two-way animal communication will depend on breakthrough AI-powered devices, large machine-learning algorithms, and more advanced technology.
Future Outlook — How Close Is This Reality?
For global AI usage in animal health, the market is expected to grow to $1.68 billion in 2025, with significant growth over the next decade.6 Thanks to increasingly accessible and affordable technology, interspecies AI communication tools are becoming more widely adopted. AI is also becoming more sophisticated, efficient, and precise, and AI-powered in inner species communication tools could pave the way for profound breakthroughs. More and more tools are actively leveraged in current research, conservation efforts, and animal communication, so chatting with your dog might happen sooner than you think.
How Ambiq is Contributing
Smart sensors, audio recorders, and asset trackers used to monitor animals and marine life require continuous operation from highly energy-efficient devices with edge processing capabilities—allowing them to function in remote environments for extended periods without frequent maintenance. These intelligent systems can filter out false readings, such as wind movement or background noise, ensuring accurate data collection while minimizing bandwidth usage.
Ambiq offers a range of ultra-low-power System-on-Chips (SoCs) that bring high-performance, energy-efficient AI to edge devices, including those used for understanding animal communications. Leveraging Ambiq’s proprietary Subthreshold Power Optimized Technology (SPOT©) platform, manufacturers can develop intelligent monitoring devices capable of running for weeks on a single charge.
These high-performance capabilities also enable real-time, on-device data processing, ensuring the most accurate insights into animal behavior, migration patterns, and ecosystem changes—supporting conservation efforts and the early detection of environmental threats. Learn more about Ambiq by visiting our website and join us at Embedded World on March 11-13th to see more edge AI possibilities.
Sources:
1 AI eavesdrops on dolphins and discovers six unknown click types | December 7, 2017
2 Wildlife Acoustics | 2024
3 Zoolingua | 2024
4 DeepSqueak: a deep learning-based system for detection and analysis of ultrasonic vocalizations | January 4, 2019
5 Can AI help us understand animals and reconnect with nature? A research lab thinks so | January 15, 2025
6 Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Animal Health Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2034 | October 7, 2024
