Google is developing a new artificial intelligence technology aimed at understanding dolphin communication and identifying their language system. This project is being carried out in collaboration with the Wild Dolphin Project (WDP), which has been studying the vocal communication of marine mammals for over 40 years. This was reported by Fox News.
According to reports, the central part of the project is a special artificial intelligence model called DolphinGemma, whose task is to determine the meanings of various sounds produced by dolphins. This artificial intelligence model, created based on a large amount of audio data collected by WDP researchers over nearly half a century, will have the ability to analyze sounds and identify their connections to various behaviors.
According to experts' observations, each sound produced by dolphins has a specific meaning and context. For example, special whistles are used when mothers and their calves are searching for each other. If they are in conflict, they emit pulsed call sounds to warn each other. The booming sound is used to signal the introduction of a new dolphin or to warn about the need to be cautious of sharks.
The DolphinGemma artificial intelligence model compares these sounds with a general database, providing the possibility to create words, phrases, or even sentences from them. As a result of this approach, it may pave the way for the first complete dictionary of dolphin language to be created.
Technologically, this project is based on Google’s most advanced Pixel smartphone technologies, which include a high-definition audio recording system. This system can clearly and distinctly separate dolphin sounds from surrounding underwater noises, such as waves or the sounds of boat engines.
Researchers emphasize that the DolphinGemma artificial intelligence model is planned to be presented to the public in the summer of 2025. Currently, this model has proven itself mainly in studies conducted with Atlantic spotted dolphins, but it is said that it could also be successfully applied to other dolphin species in the future (such as bottlenose or spinner dolphins).
The authors of the project believe that this technology could significantly expand communication possibilities between humans and the animal kingdom and usher in a new era of closer connection with the animal world in the future. If the research is fully successful, it will allow humans to establish deeper and more understandable connections with marine mammals.
