- The Intellipig system analyzes photos of pigs’ faces to detect signs of pain, sickness, or distress.
- AI trained by the University of São Paulo successfully identifies signs of pain in horses with an 88% success rate.
Researchers are developing artificial intelligence (AI) systems to help interpret animal emotions, potentially revolutionizing how we understand animal well-being.
These AI tools aim to recognize signs of pain, sickness, or emotional distress in animals, offering valuable assistance to farmers, veterinarians, and animal caretakers.
One such system is Intellipig, currently being developed by scientists at the University of the West of England Bristol and Scotland’s Rural College. This system analyzes photos of pigs’ faces and alerts farmers when it detects indicators of discomfort or distress. The technology could significantly improve animal welfare by helping farmers address issues like pain or illness promptly.
Similarly, a team at the University of Haifa, known for their facial recognition software used to locate lost dogs, is now training AI to detect emotional distress in animals. Their AI is learning to identify signs of discomfort on animal faces, focusing on the 38% of facial movements that humans share with animals. This work is aimed at improving the accuracy and efficiency of identifying emotions in various animals.
Another breakthrough comes from the University of São Paulo, where researchers trained an AI system to interpret the faces of horses before and after surgery, as well as before and after administering painkillers.
By focusing on the eyes, ears, and mouths of the horses, the AI system learned to identify signs of pain with an impressive 88% success rate. This self-learning system marks a significant step forward in using AI for animal care.
Edited by Harshajit Sarmah
