Researchers are developing artificial intelligence systems to better interpret animal emotions, potentially transforming how humans understand animal welfare. Recent studies highlighted in Science showcase innovative projects aimed at recognizing signs of distress in various animal species.
Intellipig System
The Intellipig system, created by scientists at the University of the West of England Bristol and Scotland’s Rural College, analyzes photographs of pigs‘ faces. This AI tool alerts farmers to indications of pain, illness, or emotional distress, thereby enhancing animal care.
Facial Recognition for Dogs
A team from the University of Haifa is also making strides in this field. They previously developed facial recognition software to assist in locating lost dogs. Their current focus is on training AI to detect discomfort in dogs, capitalizing on the 38% overlap in facial movements between dogs and humans.
AI Learning from Horses
In a separate study, a researcher at the University of São Paulo trained an AI system using images of horses taken before and after surgical procedures. The AI concentrated on the horses‘ eyes, ears, and mouths, achieving an impressive 88% accuracy in recognizing pain indicators.
These advancements rely on initial human observations to define animal behaviors, but the capacity for AI to learn autonomously marks a significant step forward in animal emotion interpretation.
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