As a pet owner, you may gradually learn to interpret each wag, meow, and bark, but the idea of knowing precisely what your pet is saying is still fascinating. Recent studies show that scientists are now using artificial intelligence (AI) to decode animal communication.
AI as a Tool to Decode Pet Communication
Daniel Mills, a professor of veterinary behavioral medicine at the University of Lincoln in England, emphasized AI’s potential to interpret pets’ communications, noting that it could provide valuable insights into their intentions, The Guardian reported.
This study builds on earlier research in Science Direct showing that cats use 276 facial expressions when interacting with each other. Brittany Florkiewicz of Lyon College noted that cats express themselves differently with humans, adding to the challenge of interpretation—something AI research could help unravel.
How AI Learns to Read Animal Emotions
Mills suggests that training AI to recognize specific traits, like ear position, could be key to identifying certain emotions. Letting AI create its own criteria for expressions could offer new insights and distinctions.
Mills and his team use AI to study the facial expressions of cats, dogs, and horses from online videos to identify emotions. The technology could also improve animal welfare by detecting pain in cows during milking and aiding routine health checks.
Read the original article on: Menshealth
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