In a remarkable encounter off the coast of Alaska, scientists managed to carry out what they described as a “conversation” through AI-based communication with a humpback whale named Twain. Dr. Brenda McCowan from the University of California, Davis, was at the heart of this unexpected exchange.
The “Whale-SETI” team and the discovery of whale language
Dr. McCowan and her team, known as Whale-SETI, study how humpback whales communicate. The team aims to understand whale communication systems using artificial intelligence as a primary tool and as a key to searching for extraterrestrial life.
The whale responds to human greeting
Using an underwater loudspeaker, the team played a recording of a humpback whale contact call. Amazingly, Twain approached their boat and began to respond.
For about 20 minutes, the whale circled the boat, matching the time intervals between each call played by the scientists.
Dr. McCowan said, “We believe this is the first such communicative exchange between humans and humpback whales in the humpback’s own language.”
This direct response using the whale’s own signals excited researchers and provided promising signs for a deeper understanding of this type of intelligence.
The science behind the encounter
The Whale-SETI team is working on developing filters to detect intelligent signals using artificial intelligence, a project that could be used in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
By studying how whales communicate, scientists hope to find patterns that can be applied to potential signals from space.
Dr. Fred Sharpe of the Alaska Whale Foundation noted how intelligent humpback whales are, pointing out that they have complex social systems and unique behaviors.
He explained, “Whales make tools like bubble nets to catch fish and communicate extensively through songs and social calls.”
Humans, whales, and extraterrestrial life
The behavior observed in Twain supports an important hypothesis in the search for extraterrestrial life.
Dr. Lawrence Doyle of the SETI Institute said, “Due to current technological limitations, we assume that intelligent extraterrestrial beings will be interested in communicating with us and will target our receivers.”
He added that “this assumption is definitely supported by the behaviors of humpback whales.”
By interacting with whales, the team hopes to learn how to detect and understand intelligent signals, whether they come from the depths of the ocean or the depths of space.
Details of this extraordinary encounter were published in the journal PeerJ in an article titled “Bioacoustic-Mediated Interspecies Communication As a Tool for Detecting and Exploring Nonhuman Intelligence: ‘Talking’ with an Alaskan Humpback Whale.”
Artificial intelligence and analyzing whale messages
Researchers plan to use mathematics and artificial intelligence, such as information theory and machine learning, to measure the complexity of whale communication. They aim to understand the rules and structures present in the messages they receive.
The future of human-whale communication
The work of the Whale-SETI team is not limited to acoustics; they plan to prepare a research paper focusing on non-acoustic communication methods of humpback whales, such as the bubble rings they create around humans.
Experts such as Dr. Josie Hubbard, Lisa Walker, and Jody Frediani are participating in this project, contributing their expertise in animal intelligence and the analysis of whale songs and behavior.
The team acknowledges financial support from the Templeton Foundation’s Diverse Intelligences program, which helped make their research possible.
What is Whale-SETI?
Whale-SETI, or Whale Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, is a unique project combining marine biology and the quest to discover extraterrestrial life.
Researchers are trying to decode whale communication using artificial intelligence, believing that these sounds may contain complex messages similar to human languages or even alien communication.
Why should we care about humpback whales?
Humpback whales are fascinating creatures. They can reach lengths of up to 60 feet and weights of up to 40 tons.
Known scientifically as Megaptera novaeangliae, they are characterized by their long pectoral fins and knobby heads.
They travel vast distances of up to 5,000 miles between feeding and breeding grounds.
Their songs are complex and melodic, playing an essential role in their social interaction, especially during the breeding season.
The SETI Institute and its role
Founded in 1984, the SETI Institute works to explore extraterrestrial life using advanced technologies to scan the skies for radio signals or potential indicators of intelligent civilizations.
By studying signals from space and understanding how life evolves, they seek to answer a profound question: Are we alone in the universe?
What does this mean?
This encounter with Twain highlights the importance of understanding intelligence in its various forms. Learning to communicate with humpback whales using artificial intelligence may help us develop tools that will one day help us understand messages from intelligent extraterrestrial beings.
