Poll: Do you think AI will be able to translate animal sounds into human language in the near future? Лице кое објавува дискусија: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you think AI will be able to translate animal sounds into human language in the near future?".
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I have been a translator for over 40 years and I must say that although I've had some unusual demands on my time, fortunately no one has ever demanded the translation of animal sounds. On a personal note, I had to put my dog down last year when she was found to be riddled with tumours. She was 16 years old, an exceptional age for a French bulldog, and had gone blind. I wish I could have talked to her first and explained my decision...
Sky News had a week ago a story on the same subj... See more I have been a translator for over 40 years and I must say that although I've had some unusual demands on my time, fortunately no one has ever demanded the translation of animal sounds. On a personal note, I had to put my dog down last year when she was found to be riddled with tumours. She was 16 years old, an exceptional age for a French bulldog, and had gone blind. I wish I could have talked to her first and explained my decision...
Sky News had a week ago a story on the same subject:
https://news.sky.com/story/could-ai-translate-animal-sounds-into-words-tech-experts-hope-so-13363743 ▲ Collapse
| | | | Johan Beyens (X)
Белгија
Local time: 23:35
француски на холандски
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| Best poll question ever! | May 12, 2025 |
That's it, I'm out LOL
| | | | | OMG! no, please. | May 12, 2025 |
I would say that it is not possible, but if it were, that would make my life a complete nightmare because my dog always barks at me for everything. She demands I walk her, play with her, give her some food or water, and supply her with a cold shelter when it is really hot here. I am glad that AI cannot do that so far! Thanks, God!
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| Possible now | May 13, 2025 |
I think AI is capable of translating animal sounds into human language already, given a suitable prompt. But it will get a lot of it wrong.
As the capabilities of AI continue to expand and improve, it will be able to translate even more animal sounds into human language (given a suitable prompt). But it will still get a lot of it wrong.
It will also be able to do the reverse, i.e. translate human language into animal sou... See more I think AI is capable of translating animal sounds into human language already, given a suitable prompt. But it will get a lot of it wrong.
As the capabilities of AI continue to expand and improve, it will be able to translate even more animal sounds into human language (given a suitable prompt). But it will still get a lot of it wrong.
It will also be able to do the reverse, i.e. translate human language into animal sounds, as illustrated here by the well known biologist and linguist Gary Larson. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Dan Lucas 
Обединето Кралство
Local time: 22:35
Член (2014)
јапонски на англиски
| It is a real thing | May 13, 2025 |
I learned of this initiative through the work of Masato Hagiwara, who is a high-caliber machine learning engineer. Having done a lot on Japanese/English natural language processing - which is where I first encountered his work - he is now working on the Earth Species Project, which may sound crazy but is ... See more I learned of this initiative through the work of Masato Hagiwara, who is a high-caliber machine learning engineer. Having done a lot on Japanese/English natural language processing - which is where I first encountered his work - he is now working on the Earth Species Project, which may sound crazy but is a serious (and arguably worthwhile) effort.
Success would probably force us to rethink some of the fundamental assumptions of human society, however...
Dan ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Telling right from wrong | May 13, 2025 |
Given that AI needs to be trained, how will it be able to improve if the animal making the sound is unable to correct it?
I suppose some basic growls and squeaks would be fairly easy (if a dog growls like this, it is about to attack; if it barks like this, it is feeling playful) but human language?
Generative AI tools tend to hallucinate - how would anyone know if this animal language AI tool even approaches the intended meaning?
| | | | Chris Spurgin
Обединето Кралство
Local time: 22:35
руски на англиски
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| It's already here | May 13, 2025 |
Here is a book related to this kind of thing
https://www.tommustill.com/how-to-speak-whale
There are probably other titles for other species. There have been articles about plant communication, too.
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Alex Lichanow
Германија
Local time: 23:35
англиски на германски
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| Hype machine | May 13, 2025 |
Marjolein Snippe wrote:
Given that AI needs to be trained, how will it be able to improve if the animal making the sound is unable to correct it?
I suppose some basic growls and squeaks would be fairly easy (if a dog growls like this, it is about to attack; if it barks like this, it is feeling playful) but human language?
Generative AI tools tend to hallucinate - how would anyone know if this animal language AI tool even approaches the intended meaning?
We need to realize that all the marketing around (degenerative) AI is an unsustainable hype machine built on gullibility rather than facts.
Rightfully questioning the feasibility of AI "translating" animal sounds is not part of the marketing plan.
Not to mention, the big models are increasingly falling victim to more and more "hallucinations", in part by virtue of being fed their own garbage data.
So yeah, I am totally looking forward to the AI companion of my choice translating a bear's growling as playful while it's mauling me.
| | | | Lingua 5B
Босна и Херцеговина
Local time: 23:35
англиски на француски
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Marjolein Snippe wrote:
Given that AI needs to be trained, how will it be able to improve if the animal making the sound is unable to correct it?
I suppose some basic growls and squeaks would be fairly easy (if a dog growls like this, it is about to attack; if it barks like this, it is feeling playful) but human language?
Generative AI tools tend to hallucinate - how would anyone know if this animal language AI tool even approaches the intended meaning?
Well zoology experts, subspecialists in the given animal, will correct the output at $1/hr.
What a bizarre poll. Why would I want or need this translated? Animals communicating visually and non-verbally is the main part of their identity and charm. And also if talking about therapy animals, it's precisely because they are non-verbal that they are therapeutic and soothing.
I am waiting for the next poll explaining how AI will translate your daily stool chart. Unbelievable.
How bizarre do you want it to be?
Proz: Yes.
| | | | Liena V.
Летонија
Local time: 00:35
Член (2014)
француски на латвиски
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I don't care about human language (which one is that?), I find it is already difficult enough to translate between human languages sometimes since every language is a part of a certain culture and they don't always match or correspond very well, but if it could translate between animal species, I'm in. Just imagine the discussions between a cat and a fly or between a snake and a fox! They could conspire to take over the world and I would fully support it.
| | | | Carla Selyer
Local time: 23:35
Член (2006)
португалски на англиски
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| How animal sounds are different from one language to another | May 13, 2025 |
When I read this question, my mind went off in a different tangent, and that was the thought of how in each language, we have a different way of describing animal sounds, for instance, we say a cat meows in English, but in other language, that sound is different. I remember when I first realised this, then trying to find out how these sounds were translated into other languages later when I delved into the world of language. It is this kind of experiential learning and love for exploration that ... See more When I read this question, my mind went off in a different tangent, and that was the thought of how in each language, we have a different way of describing animal sounds, for instance, we say a cat meows in English, but in other language, that sound is different. I remember when I first realised this, then trying to find out how these sounds were translated into other languages later when I delved into the world of language. It is this kind of experiential learning and love for exploration that noone can ever take away from us as the OG translators.
https://languagedrops.com/word/en/english/portuguese-pt/topics/animal_sounds/
https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/dogs-bark-other-languages ▲ Collapse
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| | Mario Chávez
Соединети Американски Држави
Local time: 17:35
англиски на шпански
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| AI hallucinations | May 13, 2025 |
AI engineers tend to be self-deprecating and self-serving. AI engines hallucinate, instead of plain admitting that AI engines make up, dissemble and falsify things, inventing facts and such nonsense.
I miss the days when the Kardashian hijinks were the talk du jour. Idiocy knows no limits.
MC
Marjolein Snippe wrote:
Given that AI needs to be trained, how will it be able to improve if the animal making the sound is unable to correct it?
I suppose some basic growls and squeaks would be fairly easy (if a dog growls like this, it is about to attack; if it barks like this, it is feeling playful) but human language?
Generative AI tools tend to hallucinate - how would anyone know if this animal language AI tool even approaches the intended meaning?
| | | | Daryo
Local time: 22:35
српски на англиски
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| How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? | May 15, 2025 |
That would be an about as relevant and engrossing topic to discuss from now to eternity ...
'Translating' messages between earthworms, fishes, birds and snakes is for sure an interesting theoretical challenge, and a solution will no doubt come very handy when humans stumble on extraterrestrial life forms in some distant future.
Call me too-much-down-to-earth if you want, but as of today this belongs in the OFF-OFF-OFF TOPIC category.
BTW whoever dre... See more That would be an about as relevant and engrossing topic to discuss from now to eternity ...
'Translating' messages between earthworms, fishes, birds and snakes is for sure an interesting theoretical challenge, and a solution will no doubt come very handy when humans stumble on extraterrestrial life forms in some distant future.
Call me too-much-down-to-earth if you want, but as of today this belongs in the OFF-OFF-OFF TOPIC category.
BTW whoever dreamed up this question, forgot that even between humans most communication is in fact non-verbal.
@Mario Chávez
AI does not 'make up, dissemble and falsify things, invent facts' - 'it' is no more than a very advanced 'statistical predictor' - an algorithm churning out 'answers' (based on past inputs) that can make sense (or not) to humans. But there is no 'understanding' of anything included in the process, nor any 'intentionality'. AI has about as much 'knowledge / understanding' of anything as would some distant alien life form that managed to tap into Earth's internet traffic.
To 'falsify' you need first to know what is 'true/real' - all 'it' can do is to recombine past inputs (i.e. in effect guess) and randomly get it sometimes right and sometimes wrong. Makes 'it' really worth trusting, surely!
As for the Kardashians - after about 15 seconds of 'sampling the product' I had my fill and watching paint dry suddenly seemed very interesting. ▲ Collapse
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