Barking Up the Right Tree: AI Decodes Dog Talk

PIC/MARCIN SZCZEPANSKI/MICHIGAN ENGINEERING

Have you ever wished you could understand your dog's barks? Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed an AI tool that deciphers whether a bark conveys playfulness or aggression. This AI, which also identifies a dog's age, sex, and breed, uses models initially trained on human speech. Collaborating with Mexico's INAOE Institute, the study leverages advanced speech-processing models to interpret dog vocalisations. It highlights AI's potential to revolutionise how we understand and respond to dogs' needs.

Night vision eye-wear may be around the corner

Researchers at TMOS, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems, have created an ultra-thin infrared filter that could revolutionise night vision gear. This breakthrough, thinner than cling wrap and weighing less than a gram, could eventually be integrated into everyday eye-wear, enabling users to see both the infrared and visible light spectrum simultaneously.