GoKawiilEarth Species Project uses AI to decode crow calls, eyes broader animal 'translation' model
Nonprofit Earth Species Project applied machine learning to detect carrion crow vocalizations and identify which bird made which call. The group is now developing NatureLM, a model trained on human speech, music and animal sounds, aiming to interpret vocalizations across species, building on decades of recording tools like hydrophones and biologgers.
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The effort suggests AI language models could eventually help scientists interpret animal communication at scale, extending work that was previously limited to manual observation. However, researchers like Yossi Yovel caution that such models might mistakenly group acoustically similar sounds that carry different meanings, indicating real translation remains unproven and two-way communication with animals is still far off.
- ESP used machine learning to distinguish individual crow calls by speaker
- ESP is building NatureLM, trained on human speech, music, and animal sounds, to interpret multiple species
- Experts warn AI could misread acoustic similarities, and true interspecies translation remains unproven
Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter Mini bioacoustic recorder — If animal communication fascinates you, this compact field recorder lets you capture real bioacoustic data like researchers do, from bird calls to nocturnal critter chatter. It's a great entry point for citizen scientists curious about the same signals AI is now learning to decode.
See Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter Mini bioacoustic recorder on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: technologyreview.com — Cassandra Willyard, 2026-10-21
Published there as: “Interspecies communication”
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