AI tools could let humans converse with animals, sparking privacy and misuse concerns

Advances in artificial intelligence are enabling the collection and replication of animal vocalizations, with scientists hoping to decode inter-species communication. A recent Springer Nature article warns that such data gathering may violate animals' privacy, as it allows humans to shape how animals appear to others. Playback, the practice of emitting recorded calls in the wild, raises further ethical issues because it can stress animals, disrupt their societies, or be weaponised by malicious actors.

Biologist Vittorio Baglione praised AI's ability to sort crow calls but cautioned that hunters could exploit the technology. César Rodríguez-Garavito of NYU's More-Than-Human Life Program warned that mass human interest could distress animals or turn them into tools. Nonetheless, the Coller Doolittle Challenge offers a $10 million reward for a system that enables communication without the animal recognizing human involvement, with its backer Jeremy Coller confident the goal will be met by 2030.