FT Tech Tonic

Can AI help us speak to animals? Part one

A hardware revolution in recording devices and a software revolution in artificial intelligence is enabling researchers to listen in to all kinds of conversations outside the human hearing range, a field known as bioacoustics. Some scientists now believe these developments will also allow us to ‘translate’ animal sounds into human language. In a new season of Tech Tonic, FT innovation editor John Thornhill and series producer Persis Love ask whether we’re moving closer to being able to ‘speak whale’ or even to chat with bats. Free links:<a href="https://on.ft.com/48lBjFK" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Google Translate for the zoo? How humans might talk to animals</a><a href="https://on.ft.com/3PFAuAf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Karen Bakker, scientist and author, 1971-2023</a><a href="https://ig.ft.com/generative-ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How generative AI really works</a> Credits: Sperm whale sounds from Project CETI; honeyhunter calls from Claire SpottiswoodePresented by John Thornhill, produced by Persis Love, sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio. <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/418bca4c-8ee1-45c9-952b-cad33c4839a4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com</a> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

We are in the midst of a digital revolution, where the line between our physical world and cyberspace is blurring. Tech Tonic is the show that investigates the promises and perils of this new technological age.  Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.