Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used in a study by University of Michigan researchers to know the meanings behind different dog sounds. The study aims to understand a dog’s feelings, as well as the dog’s age, gender, and breed—all based on its bark.
Researchers are using current computer models trained on human speech to gain insights into the barks and sounds that our furry friends make in certain situations. Rada Mihalcea, head of AI Laboratory at the University, said that advances in the field of AI can help us understand animal communication better. Part of the study involves using technology that is already available for human speech processing as a way to start figuring out dog barks.
The Challenge
AI that’s used to process human speech can recognize different tones, pitches, and accents in human voices because it has been trained on many real voices. But there isn’t a big database for dog sounds because it’s much more difficult to record animals.
Lead author of the research Artem Abzaliev and his team gathered barks, growls, and whimpers from 74 dogs of different breeds, ages, and genders. They used a machine-learning model to analyze these sounds, which is a type of computer program that finds patterns in data originally designed for human speech.
RELATED: Decoding Your Dog’s Body Language
Promising Results
The AI model was found to have an average of 70% accuracy across multiple tests when it came to understanding the dogs’ barks. Mihalcea said that this is the first time human speech techniques have been used to decode animal sounds. The researchers believe their findings could help improve how we care for animals. By better understanding the needs of animals through the sounds and vocalizations they make, humans can have a more insightful interpretation of animals’ physical and emotional needs.
The results were shared at a major conference on computational linguistics. The project also involved Mexico’s National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics, and Electronics. This collaboration is an example of combining expertise from different fields to make new discoveries.
What This Could Mean for Dog Owners
Better understanding your dog’s barks could lead to more effective training methods, which in turn can improve your bond with your pet. AI-powered apps or devices can also assist in dog training by providing real-time feedback to pet owners. Such tools can analyze a dog’s behavior, such as barking, sitting, or jumping, and give owners tips on how to reinforce positive actions and discourage unwanted ones. This can make training more fun and effective for both the dog and the owner.
Other possible AI-powered tools could include wearable devices where built-in AI can monitor a dog’s activity levels, sleep patterns, and vital signs. Such a device can alert owners to potential health issues before they become serious. Imagine, a sudden change in activity level could indicate that a dog is not feeling well, effectively prompting a visit to the vet.
The promising results seen in the research ultimately suggest that owners could be given the ability to respond to their pets more appropriately, which in turn can make the pet feel more secure and happy.
RELATED: 10 Ways to Save Your Dog’s Life
Other Uses of AI in Making Animal Lives Better
AI is also being used to diagnose health issues in dogs. By analyzing medical images such as X-rays or MRIs, AI can help veterinarians detect conditions like hip dysplasia, tumors, or heart problems more quickly and accurately. This can lead to earlier treatment and better chances at a quality life for pets.
There are numerous other concerns that Artificial Intelligence can aid in. Some of these that we might see happening in the not-so-distant future are AI-powered dog shelter programs, interactive toys, genetic research, and so much more. By leveraging AI, we can gain a deeper understanding of our furry friends while also improving their health, training, and overall well-being.