# Researchers say AI may not benefit animals with ‘talking’ to them

Digest AI · Research · published 2026-09-22T12:00:54Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/researchers-say-ai-may-not-benefit-animals-with-talking-to-them

## Summary

University of Bristol researcher Stephanie King, who co‑leads the long‑running Shark Bay Dolphin Research project, says AI can help process data but warns that the quest to “talk to dolphins” is misleading. She notes that media hype and cash prizes such as the Coller Dolittle Challenge push scientists toward premature claims, while the true meaning of dolphin whistles and clicks remains largely unknown.

Elephant expert Joyce Poole shares the same scepticism, calling the idea of a universal animal translator “gimmicky” and stressing that simply understanding animal communication could improve their treatment. Others, like César Rodríguez‑Garavito of NYU’s More Than Human Life program, see AI as a possible way to give animals a voice in policy, yet stress the need for ethical safeguards. The field has responded with the Pepp framework (prepare, engage, prevent, protect), though its impact on practice is still unclear.

## Key points

- Stephanie King warns AI hype may distract from careful, long‑term dolphin field studies.
- The Coller Dolittle Challenge offers cash prizes for algorithms that claim to communicate with non‑human species.
- Researchers propose the Pepp ethical framework, but its practical adoption remains uncertain.

## Why it matters

Understanding AI’s limits in animal communication helps prevent misallocated funding, sensational claims, and potential harms to wildlife, guiding responsible research and policy.

## Sources

1. [Using AI to ‘talk to animals’ might make us feel clever – but what, if anything, does it do for them?](https://theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2026/sep/22/animal-language-recordings-ai) (The Guardian AI, 2026-09-22)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Researchers say AI may not benefit animals with ‘talking’ to them", 22 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/researchers-say-ai-may-not-benefit-animals-with-talking-to-them

---

Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record. Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse
JSON: https://digestai.news/story/researchers-say-ai-may-not-benefit-animals-with-talking-to-them.json