How AI is helping to decipher animal communication

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing nearly every industry today, but perhaps one of its most captivating applications is in the world of science, where it's being used to decode the languages of non-human species. David Gruber, a National Geographic Explorer, marine biologist, and the leader of Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative), is at the forefront of this emerging field, using AI to unlock the secrets of whale communication.

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His team’s work could not only transform our understanding of animal intelligence but may also lay the groundwork for humanity’s first successful communication with extraterrestrial life. Here’s a deep dive into his fascinating research, which was recently featured in National Geographic’s November issue on AI.

The Role of AI in Understanding Nature

While most AI research focuses on human data—such as analyzing books, websites, and social media content—there has been comparatively little attention paid to decoding the languages of non-human species. This is where Project CETI comes in.

Founded in 2020, Project CETI is based on the island of Dominica, home to a resident population of sperm whales. These magnificent creatures are known for their intelligence and complex social behaviors, but until recently, their communication system remained largely a mystery. Gruber’s team has been working to change that by creating the world’s largest non-human communication database. The ultimate goal is to "listen to and translate" what sperm whales are saying through the power of AI.

This endeavor is no small task. Gruber's team is composed of over 50 scientists from diverse disciplines, including linguistics, marine biology, robotics, and computer science. Together, they are developing AI models capable of deciphering the intricate, click-based language of sperm whales, known as codas.

 Why Sperm Whales?

Sperm whales are a remarkable species, and Gruber expresses his awe at the opportunity to study them. "We’re just honored to work with these creatures,” Gruber says. “They’ve got the biggest brain of any animal known on Earth—an astounding 18 pounds. Their brains are not only large but also highly evolved, suggesting a sophisticated communication system that AI is well-suited to decode."

Sperm whales communicate using codas—short bursts of clicks. These codas are structured like binary code (ones and zeros), which makes them ideal for AI analysis. Given the complexity and ancient origins of sperm whale communication, believed to date back tens of millions of years, the task of decoding their language requires cutting-edge AI techniques.

In May 2023, Project CETI achieved a significant breakthrough: the release of the first-ever sperm whale phonetic alphabet. This marks a critical step toward translating the whales' communication into a system humans can understand. Gruber's team is now working on deciphering further elements, such as the presence of vowels in sperm whale communication. In the coming months, they aim to release more findings that will bring us closer to understanding this sophisticated language.

AI as a Gateway to Extraterrestrial Communication

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Gruber’s work is its potential to help humanity communicate with extraterrestrial life forms. Gruber’s team has drawn inspiration from SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence)—a project dedicated to finding intelligent life beyond Earth. In fact, Project CETI named itself in homage to SETI, viewing its work as a parallel effort to understand communication systems of intelligent beings.

Gruber explains that if we can’t successfully decode the communication of animals here on Earth, it would be far more challenging to understand the language of extraterrestrials. “If we can’t translate non-human animals on our own planet, how are we going to go out several light-years and translate life if and when we find it?” he points out. The research done by Project CETI, in this sense, serves as a form of "training wheels" for the monumental task of deciphering potential alien communication.

Whales, with their immense brains and complex communication systems, are Earth’s "intelligent others." By decoding their language, Gruber believes we will develop the frameworks needed to engage with non-human intelligences, be they on Earth or elsewhere in the universe.

What Project CETI Has Achieved So Far

Project CETI’s progress is inspiring:

- Largest Non-Human Communication Database: Since 2020, Gruber’s team has been building the most comprehensive data set on sperm whale communication. This includes millions of recordings of their codas.

- Sperm Whale Phonetic Alphabet: In May 2023, Project CETI released the first sperm whale phonetic alphabet. This provides a structured way to start understanding their vocalizations, breaking their clicks down into phonetic components much like how humans use letters.

- Collaboration Across Multiple Disciplines: Gruber has assembled a team of over 50 experts, including marine biologists, linguists, AI experts, engineers, and even cryptographers. This interdisciplinary approach is essential for tackling such a complex communication system.

- AI Decoding Tools: The AI tools developed by Project CETI are specifically designed to handle vast amounts of audio data. By using machine learning algorithms, they can identify patterns in the whales’ communication, akin to how AI recognizes patterns in human languages.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, Project CETI aims to release more insights into the structure of sperm whale communication, including evidence of vowel sounds in their codas. This will add to the growing understanding of how these creatures communicate, and whether their language exhibits the same complexity as human speech.

The project's ultimate goal is to translate sperm whale communication into a form that can be understood by humans, providing insight not only into the intelligence of these majestic creatures but also laying the groundwork for future efforts to communicate with non-human intelligences, possibly even extraterrestrial ones.

Implications Beyond Earth

David Gruber’s work may seem focused on the oceans, but it has far-reaching implications. By improving AI’s ability to decode non-human communication, humanity is gaining tools that could one day be used to communicate with extraterrestrial life. Gruber believes that his work with sperm whales will provide a crucial first step in understanding what an alien communication system might look like—and how to go about translating it.

This research challenges our assumptions about intelligence, communication, and what it means to understand another species—or even another civilization.

For those interested in learning more, David Gruber’s work is featured in National Geographic’s November issue on artificial intelligence. More information can be found at natgeo.com. National Geographic is a joint venture between the National Geographic Society and Disney.

Key Takeaways:

- Project CETI is using AI to decode sperm whale communication, a click-based language known as codas.

- In May 2023, they released the first-ever sperm whale phonetic alphabet.

- The project has implications for how humans might one day communicate with extraterrestrials.

- Sperm whales are ideal subjects due to their 18-pound brain—the largest of any known animal on Earth.

- The research represents a training ground for decoding non-human intelligences, both on Earth and potentially beyond.

David Gruber’s work opens up a new frontier, connecting AI, marine biology, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. It’s an exciting time for science, and the journey has only just begun.