Published : 22 Sep 2026, 07:01 PM
Updated : 22 Sep 2026, 07:01 PM
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into animal behaviour research, scientists are raising concerns about how the technology is being used and hyped, according to The Guardian.
Stephanie King, who co-leads Shark Bay Dolphin Research at the University of Bristol, said AI can transform research when used responsibly, but bristled at the idea that it might someday let humans "speak dolphin".
"I think we're doing the animals a disservice by focusing on that question," she told The Guardian, adding that the framing of AI as a tool to "crack" or "decode" animal language is misleading and risks pushing scientists towards premature or sensationalised claims.
Despite decades of research, scientists still know little about what dolphin sounds mean, partly because dolphins process sound differently from humans. King said the priority should be understanding their communication system on its own terms rather than trying to fit humans into it.
Elephant researcher Joyce Poole, a leading expert on African savanna elephants, expressed similar scepticism. She said the goal of talking to animals was “kind of gimmicky”, arguing that simply understanding how elephants communicate is enough.
Still, some researchers see promise in the technology. César Rodríguez-Garavito of NYU told The Guardian that AI could eventually bring animal perspectives into policy and legal decisions, including marine-protection rules.
But he cautioned that humans have "a very mixed track record" with new technologies and warned of risks, including AI being used to lure or manipulate animals for entertainment or exploitation.
To help address such concerns, Rodríguez-Garavito's programme recently published an ethical framework for animal communication technologies, though he noted there is currently no broader international agreement governing AI development.
Marine mammal researcher Luke Rendell of the University of St Andrews said AI hype has outpaced the science, with some organisations claiming animal communication decoding is a matter of “when”, not “if”. He warned such claims echo past overreach that damaged the field’s credibility.
Researchers said AI is useful only alongside long-term fieldwork. King told The Guardian that although students sometimes want to use AI to match dolphin fin photographs, she insists on doing it manually because behavioural details take time to understand.
