Researchers highlighted in Science suggest that artificial intelligence may one day enhance our ability to recognize when animals are experiencing pain or other emotions.
One notable project is the Intellipig system, developed by scientists from the University of the West of England Bristol and Scotland’s Rural College. This system analyzes photographs of pigs’ facial expressions and alerts farmers to any signs of pain, illness, or emotional distress.
Another research team at the University of Haifa, known for their facial recognition software that has helped locate lost dogs, is now training AI to detect signs of discomfort in dogs’ facial expressions, which share 38% of the same movements as humans.
These AI systems typically begin with humans identifying the meanings behind various animal behaviors, based on extensive observations in different contexts. However, a researcher at the University of São Paulo has taken a different approach by using photographs of horses’ faces taken before and after surgery, as well as before and after administering pain relief. By focusing on the horses’ eyes, ears, and mouths, the AI system was able to autonomously learn the indicators of pain, achieving an impressive 88% accuracy rate.
