Talking turkey: How AI may help us understand animal speech

I don't like artificial intelligence language models.

While they're effective for helping people write emails or memos – particularly those who are uncomfortable writing – they create an opportunity for the rapid spread of misinformation. That's because such programs as ChatGPT and Copilot lack human skepticism, which means they often believe anything that appears on the internet. In that, they're like your aunt.

AI language models also threaten people like me: They will increasingly be used to "report" news and write informative reports. That threatens the value of news gathering, which is vital to an informed citizenry. Great reporters and writers can't be replaced by a computer without some loss of value.

However, there is a valuable potential use for such AI language models with a fascinating – albeit suspicious – purpose: Using AI to understand how animals communicate.

Yes. You may someday use AI to understand what your dog or cat says. You may be able to understand a mouse in your wall or a fly that's buzzing in front of your TV screen.

A company called Earth Species Project has an AI language model called NatureLM that it claims can already identify the species of an animal that's "speaking," determine the animal's approximate age and identify whether it's in distress or playing.

The language model is trained by human language, environmental sounds and other data. Earth Species Project recently announced that it had received nearly $20 million in grant funding. 

According to an article on Axios, researchers already know that birds make different sounds while singing songs (most often "Freebird" or "When Doves Cry") and sounding a warning call. Researchers also say that many species have individual names for one another (most common names among ants: Ant and Bugsy) and some, like prairie dogs, have a system of nouns and adjectives to describe predators ("big ugly squealer" for coyotes).

Today's treat for Daily Republic readers: I came into possession of a bootleg version of NatureLM, recorded animals near me and will share what I heard.

A neighbor's dog, on a walk: "Heya, heya, heya. Wanna play? Wanna play? Heya, heya, heya."

Two wild turkeys, in my neighborhood: "Hey Larry, Hey Larry! Hey! Check me out! I'm gonna fly!"

"Knock it off Scott. Let's go over–

"Hey Lar-ree! Lar-ree! I can fly! I could be a goose!"

"Watch out, Scott. There's a car--"

"Hey Lar-ree! I bet I can fly better than you! And check out my tailfeathers!"

A fly, circling my food while I eat outside: "Bzzzzzzzzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."

A coyote, between howls: "Hey prairie dogs! Come out and play! Come on out! I'm not a 'big ugly squealer, I'm a owwooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! That wasn't a squeal, that was a owwoooeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

A neighbor's cat, near the window: You pathetic excuse for a living being, you think you'll learn about me by listening to my conversation? Tell my servant to clean out my litter box. Now. It's not gonna clean itself."

The turkeys, again: "Lar-ree! Lar-ree! Do you think the ladies will like me more if I fly?"

"I don't know Scott. I think you should just keep it do–"

"Lar-ree! You're jealous, right? I don't blame you, look at these feathers!"

"Scott, just settle down."

"Hey Lar-ree! Did you hear what the duck said the other day when he bought lipstick?"

"I don't think ducks can speak."

"He said, 'just put it on my bill. Get it?"

After that discussion, I turned off NatureLM, knowing one thing: Turkeys have an underrated sense of humor.

Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@outlook.com.