AI Is Helping Decode the Language of Whales, Elephants, and More

What if humans used AI not just for human needs—but to better understand the nonhuman beings with whom we share the planet?

Artificial intelligence is unlocking an unprecedented opportunity: the ability to understand what animals are saying. Once limited to human applications, machine learning and robotics are now giving researchers tools to decode nonhuman communication—from the names elephants call each other, understanding how moths detect the distress calls of plants, and decoding the layered click sounds of sperm whales—a highly social and intelligent species whose vocalizations may contain phonetic building blocks similar to vowels and an alphabet.

Scientists today can finally assemble and analyze the massive datasets needed to move beyond speculation toward true translation—and even interspecies dialogue. Much as the microscope and telescope opened hidden worlds to human eyes, AI and acoustic technologies are now revealing messages previously beyond the reach of human senses.

This moment echoes a milestone from fifty years ago, when Roger and Katy Payne recorded the haunting songs of humpback whales. Their findings sparked global wonder, culminating in a best-selling album and fueling the "Save the Whales" movement that helped prevent several species from going extinct. Science inspired wonder, wonder fostered empathy, empathy rekindled hope—and hope spurred collective action.

Such revelations challenge long-held assumptions about the boundaries between human and nonhuman intelligence.

A Scientific Shift—and a Legal One

Projects like the Cetacean Translation Initiative (CETI) and NYU Law’s More-Than-Human Life (MOTH) Program are examining the implications of this research. CETI is applying natural language processing, deep learning, and bioacoustics to thousands of hours of sperm whale vocalizations, seeking to uncover the grammatical rules, social nuances, and possibly even cultural knowledge embedded within their clicks.

MOTH is investigating the legal ramifications of these discoveries. If whales and other species are shown to possess complex linguistic structures and rich social lives, these findings could reinforce arguments for granting animals stronger legal protections—or even specific rights.

Their combined findings suggest that cetaceans may possess communication systems advanced enough to support new legal protections. For instance, new evidence could support claims that incessant underwater noise from ship traffic, seismic surveys, and deep-sea mining could soon be classified as psychological or physical torture based on how severely these sounds disrupt whales' social lives and communication.

These arguments are gaining legal traction. In the Pacific, Indigenous leaders from New Zealand, Tahiti, and the Cook Islands recently signed a treaty recognizing the legal personhood of cetaceans, blending traditional knowledge with emerging scientific discoveries.

The potential of AI-assisted research to elevate the legal and ethical standing of nonhuman animals is profound. Yet, without caution, the same technologies could deepen exploitation rather than encourage empathy.

Ethical Crossroads in AI Research

Yet, with breakthrough comes risk. Scientists warn that without strict ethical standards, AI tools could do more harm than good. Technologies meant to understand and protect animals have also been used to track, control, and exploit them.

Experts call for enforceable protections, including:

• Prioritizing animal welfare over research ambition

• Adopting the precautionary principle—acting to prevent harm even in uncertain scenarios

• Applying the 3Rs: Replace, Reduce, and Refine nonhuman animal use in studies

• Implementing strong data governance protocols to prevent exploitation of animal-related data

Without these safeguards, AI might deepen the commodification of animal life rather than protect it.

What This Means

AI may redefine humanity’s relationship with nature. Used responsibly, it can reveal the depths of animal intelligence and forge new bonds of empathy. Used recklessly, it risks further alienation from the natural world. The next chapter in AI research isn’t just about machines learning our language—it’s about whether we can learn to truly listen in return.

“The lesson is not about whales and dolphins, but about ourselves,” Carl Sagan once said. What we choose to do with this knowledge will define how—and whether—we coexist with the rest of life on Earth.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and editorial support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. It is based on original reporting by Time Magazine and has been adapted for clarity and context. Final perspectives and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. To read the full original article, visit Time Magazine.