Scientists in Abu Dhabi will examine whether artificial intelligence can help decipher the sounds of whales and dolphins at a public presentation on Thursday, October 29, organized by the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.
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The presentation, titled “The Languages of the Cetaceans,” will be delivered by Dr. Olivier Adam, deputy director of the university’s Ocean Institute and a specialist in underwater acoustics and marine mammal communication.
Announced Tuesday, the event will examine how whales and dolphins produce sounds, exchange information, and maintain social relationships. Adam will explain differences between the vocal systems of baleen whales, which include humpbacks, and toothed cetaceans, which include dolphins and sperm whales.
Researchers have long studied the elaborate songs of humpback whales and the distinctive whistles and clicks used by dolphins. Scientists believe these sounds play important roles in social interaction, reproduction, and navigation, although much about their meaning remains unknown.
Machine-learning and breakthroughs in communication
Artificial intelligence offers new possibilities for studying such communication. Machine-learning systems can analyze extensive underwater recordings, identify recurring acoustic patterns, and detect relationships between sounds that human researchers might overlook.
Scientists caution that recognizing patterns does not necessarily mean understanding what animals are communicating. Establishing meaning requires examining the circumstances in which sounds occur and how other animals respond.
Adam’s research includes studies of humpback whale mothers and calves, sperm whale social behavior, and the effects of underwater noise pollution on marine mammals.
Shipping, offshore industrial activity, and other human-generated sounds can interfere with cetaceans’ ability to communicate and navigate, creating additional challenges for marine conservation.
The Abu Dhabi presentation is part of a public science program launched by the research center in 2023. Organizers say the series has attracted nearly 4,000 participants through discussions of marine biology, environmental protection, and regional natural history.
Thursday’s session begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, but advance registration is required. The presentation will also be recorded for later online viewing.
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