Animal talk: How AI is helping us understand other species (media article at El País)

Artificial intelligence is helping scientists decode animal communication, with the Earth Species Project developing NatureLM-audio, the first open-source audio language model trained on human speech, music, and bioacoustics. Researchers warn of ethical red lines to avoid interfering with animal cultures, aiming to use these advancements to better understand and protect other species.

Published on July 17, 2026 8:51 AM GMT My article was translated by the US edition of Diario EL PAÍS , where I am publishing once again to discuss how Artificial Intelligence is helping us to understand the language of other animals. https://english.elpais.com/climate/2026-07-03/animal-talk-how-ai-is-helping-us-understand-other-species.html It is a subject that, as a lecturer and communications professional, has fascinated me for years, and the advancements in the field of animal linguistics bring me immense joy. I had the pleasure and honour of speaking about this topic with Holly Brewer , spokesperson for the Earth Species Project , and Jeff Sebo, Doctor of Philosophy and Professor at New York University . At the Earth Species Project, they have developed the world's first open-source audio language model, NatureLM-audio, designed specifically for animal sounds. They have trained it on data ranging from human speech to music and bioacoustics. This technology can help the field advance significantly faster in several different ways. Do not miss their study in partnership with the Universidad de León on carrion crows. Both interviewees agree that there are red lines we must not cross in our curiosity, which is as instinctive as it is scientific, to unravel the communication codes of other species. Among other reasons, this is because we could inadvertently interfere negatively with cultures that precede our own. Because yes, communication is language, and language is culture. As Darwin intuited long ago, the use of organised sounds to express feelings and be understood by others was not an exclusively human activity. We already know this; now we must see exactly where these advancements lead us and how we can use them for the best possible ethical purpose: to better understand and protect other animals. Perhaps, too, in this uncertain endeavour, this exercise in understanding, we will also reconcile with our own animality. As many of you know, there is a word limit on media articles, so there is still so much I wanted to discuss that I simply did not have the space, or indeed the right medium, but I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Hay una versión en español, https://elpais.com/tecnologia/2026-07-03/el-lenguaje-de-los-otros-animales-como-la-ia-nos-esta-ayudando-a-entender-la-comunicacion-en-otras-especies.html la original, para quienes prefieran leerlo en su idioma. Hello everyone. This is my first post on the forum, so for those of you who have not met me yet, I am Paula https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulagonzalezc/ , a Communications Director with more than twenty years of executive leadership in building global brands and organisational systems for mission-driven organisations. I am also a lecturer in the Theory of Communication, Strategic Comms. Oratory, and other related subjects at various institutions, including the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, ESADE, and Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Please feel free to reach out if you would like to nerd out about communication. Thank you Discuss https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/GFBaYG4LPE8Yue6Fy/animal-talk-how-ai-is-helping-us-understand-other-species comments