Google creates AI to communicate with dolphins effectively
- Google has collaborated with researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology and the Wild Dolphin Project to create an AI model called DolphinGemma.
- This model is designed to analyze and generate dolphin sounds, based on a vast collection of underwater recordings.
- The initiative seeks to enhance understanding of dolphin communication and potentially facilitate a two-way communication system.
In April 2025, Google announced the development of DolphinGemma, an AI model designed to understand and replicate dolphin sounds. This initiative coincided with National Dolphin Day in the United States, acknowledging the intelligence of dolphins, second only to humans in brain-to-body ratio. The Georgia Institute of Technology and the Wild Dolphin Project (WDP) collaborated with Google, utilizing decades of recorded underwater audio and video data from wild Atlantic spotted dolphins to create this 400-million parameter AI model, which processes and predicts dolphin vocalizations. As part of the ongoing effort to unlock the mysteries of dolphin communication, researchers are also looking to establish two-way communication through the Cetacean Hearing Augmentation Telemetry (CHAT) system. Dolphins possess unique abilities, such as advanced communication, problem-solving skills, and emotional processing, raising interest among scientists about their social structures and interactions. CHAT aims to develop a simplified vocabulary by associating specific sounds with objects of interest for dolphins. The WDP's extensive research, dating back to 1985, involves observing these cetaceans in their natural habitat, cementing their status as intelligent beings capable of complex interactions. The potential application of DolphinGemma extends beyond Atlantic spotted dolphins to aid in the research of other cetacean species, including bottlenose and spinner dolphins. As DolphinGemma supports field research, its open model release this summer is expected to be a significant milestone for marine research and communication studies. This initiative exemplifies how technology can bridge gaps in understanding between species, providing researchers with tools to foster communication with marine life. The deployment of this advanced AI in real-time could yield insights not previously accessible, enhancing our comprehension of dolphin behaviors and social signals. The promise of facilitating two-way communication with dolphins opens an exciting avenue for future studies and animal interaction. Researchers are optimistic that engagement with the dolphins using unique whistles could create stronger bonds between the animals and scientists. As this model is put into practice, it could reshape the dynamics of how humans observe and interact with intelligent marine mammals. This project exemplifies a blend of technology and biology, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in understanding the natural world.