Abu Dhabi scientists to explore AI decoding of whale and dolphin communication

The Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi will host a public presentation titled “The Languages of the Cetaceans” on October 29. Led by Dr. Olivier Adam, deputy director of the university’s Ocean Institute, the event will examine how whales and dolphins produce sounds to exchange information and maintain social relationships.

Dr. Adam will discuss the vocal differences between baleen whales, such as humpbacks, and toothed cetaceans, including dolphins and sperm whales. The presentation will specifically address the potential for artificial intelligence to assist researchers by analyzing extensive underwater recordings to identify recurring acoustic patterns that humans might overlook.

While machine learning offers new ways to detect relationships between sounds, researchers note that recognizing patterns is not the same as understanding meaning. Establishing true communication requires studying the context of the sounds and the subsequent responses from other animals. The talk also touches upon the impact of human-generated noise pollution, such as shipping and offshore industrial activity, on marine mammal navigation and social interaction.