If our cats could talk… oooh, the tales they would tell — with their tails held high!
Baidu Inc., a Chinese multinational technology company, is currently in the process of filing a patent for an artificial intelligence (AI) system that translates animal sounds into words.
Decoding the Meows, Awws, and Moos
For years, scientists have been working to decode animal sounds — particularly those of endangered species — as part of conservation efforts. Two universities in Australia, the University of Warwick and the University of New South Wales, conducted research to analyze animal sounds. They discovered that Asian elephants produce pulsed sounds, but what those sounds actually mean is what Baidu Inc. aims to uncover.
Imagine waking up in the morning and knowing exactly what your dog is barking about, or being able to interpret the bubbling sounds your fish makes. It may sound silly now, but it’s further proof that AI is advancing — and rapidly.
What Netizens Think
According to Baidu’s patent documents, the AI system could enable “deeper emotional communication and understanding between animals and humans, improving the accuracy and efficiency of cross-species communication.” However, netizens remain skeptical, as the reliability of AI is still being questioned — even more so, the capabilities of its users and how far its application might go.
One lingering question: if approved, could animal statements be used for legal purposes?
What do you think, Sugboanons?
