AI may soon be able to communicate in the language of dogs and cats.

      Imagine being able to understand precisely what your dog means when it barks, or what your cat conveys when it miaows, or even how your iguana communicates with whatever sound it makes (if they make any at all).

      Various efforts have been made to create systems that allow pets to communicate. A well-known example is dogs using programmable sound buttons, each corresponding to a specific word or phrase, to express their needs, feelings, or observations. However, none are as intriguing as the proposal by the Chinese technology company Baidu, which has filed a patent with the China National Intellectual Property Administration.

      According to the patent, the system collects animal data, including vocal sounds, behaviors, and physiological signals, as reported by Sky News this week. The gathered information would be processed and analyzed using AI to interpret the sounds animals make.

      However, don’t anticipate having deep conversations with your dog about the weather or hearing your cat make critical comments about your Netflix choices. Initially, it’s important to note that there is no indication of an AI being developed that can converse back with animals, and the primary insights you might gain would relate to your pet’s emotional state.

      Baidu states in the patent that their system would enhance “the accuracy and efficiency of cross-species communication,” though a company spokesperson has warned that this technology is “still in the research phase.”

      There has already been noteworthy research aimed at accurately translating animal sounds, especially those of dogs. For instance, an ongoing study at UC San Diego’s Comparative Cognition Lab is exploring how soundboards can help dogs articulate their needs. Some dogs have demonstrated the ability to combine several words to create simple requests like “outside play” or “food now.” However, critics argue that too many assumptions are made about dogs’ understanding of these words, suggesting that they might just be pressing buttons learned through specific cues, such as the sound the button makes.

      As AI technology progresses rapidly, we can only hope that Baidu is making significant strides in this area.

      Not that long ago, Trevor transitioned from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

      AI has made significant advancements, but it still struggles with games — or even playing them.

      As AI tools continue to improve, we are increasingly encouraged to delegate various complex tasks to them. LLMs are capable of writing our emails, crafting presentations, designing apps, generating videos, conducting internet searches, summarizing results, and much more. Nevertheless, one area they still find challenging is video games.

      So far this year, AI giants like Microsoft and Anthropic have attempted to develop models capable of generating or playing games, but the outcomes have likely been more limited than many anticipated.

      Artificial intelligence (AI) may soon be able to think for itself, and numerous companies are eager to achieve this as quickly as possible. Whether this is feasible remains an open question; however, if successful, we could experience a swift transition from the AI era to the AGI era.

      The rapid expansion of AI in recent years may appear sudden to some, but the field has been evolving for decades. As technology continues to progress, the advancement of AI has been swift, and many industry insiders are already focusing on the next significant development: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Currently, AGI remains a theoretical idea, but many believe it will mark the next phase in training AI to possess autonomous intelligence.

      You may have often joked about how companies seem to rush to introduce products that feature even a hint of AI, just to run impressive advertising campaigns proclaiming their offerings are at the forefront of this hot technology. However, one tech founder, Albert Saniger, is now in trouble after being accused of making false claims about his company’s technology, which was discovered to be driven by a group of individuals in a call center in the Philippines, rather than any "AI-infused" protocol.