AI Model Seeks To Decode What Dolphins Are Saying - 1

Image by Chris Blonk, from Unsplash

AI Model Seeks To Decode What Dolphins Are Saying

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Researchers studying dolphin communication are now using a new AI model developed by Google to better understand the structure of dolphin vocalizations.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Google developed an AI model to analyze and generate dolphin vocalizations.
  • The model is trained on decades of WDP dolphin communication data.
  • DolphinGemma will be open-sourced to support global cetacean communication research.

The model, known as DolphinGemma, analyzes recorded dolphin sounds to identify patterns and generate sequences of dolphin-like vocalizations, as announced Tuesday on a Google News Blog .

The initiative is a collaboration between Google, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the Wild Dolphin Project (WDP) , a non-profit that has been researching a community of wild Atlantic spotted dolphins in the Bahamas since 1985.

Google reports that the tool is designed to support the study of interspecies communication by identifying patterns within the complex sound sequences dolphins use in the wild. Their long-term, non-invasive fieldwork has produced a substantial archive of audio and video, which is now being used to train AI systems.

This includes examples of known sound types—such as signature whistles used between mothers and calves, burst pulses during conflict, and click buzzes in courtship or predator interactions.

The aim is to better understand the structure of these vocalizations and what they may indicate about dolphin cognition and communication.

DolphinGemma builds on this dataset by applying Google’s SoundStream audio processing and a 400-million parameter model architecture to learn and predict dolphin sounds.

Rather than attempting to translate the sounds directly, the model processes sequences of natural dolphin vocalizations and generates new, dolphin-like sounds based on learned patterns.

Google reports that the approach mirrors how large language models handle human language, predicting likely continuations based on prior input.

The model is currently being tested in the field by WDP using Pixel smartphones. Researchers hope it will help identify recurring vocal structures and reduce the manual labor involved in parsing large volumes of acoustic data.

The tool may also assist in identifying potential building blocks of communication systems among dolphins. Alongside this effort, WDP and Georgia Tech are developing the CHAT (Cetacean Hearing Augmentation Telemetry) system—a separate interface for limited two-way interaction.

CHAT emits synthetic whistles associated with objects dolphins are known to interact with. The system is designed to detect whether dolphins mimic these whistles, and to alert researchers in real time via underwater headphones.

The latest version, incorporating DolphinGemma, allows for more efficient processing and prediction of these vocalizations in real time.

While the research does not claim to have decoded dolphin language, it represents a step forward in identifying possible structures within their vocal behavior.

Google plans to release DolphinGemma as an open model in the coming months, enabling broader use by researchers working with other cetacean species.

PS5 Prices Rise In Europe, UK And Australia, U.S. May Be Next - 2

Image by Nikita Kostrykin, from Unsplash

PS5 Prices Rise In Europe, UK And Australia, U.S. May Be Next

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Sony has raised PlayStation 5 prices in several countries, citing inflation and currency issues, experts warn U.S. price hikes could follow soon.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Sony raised PS5 Digital Edition prices in UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
  • Standard PS5 prices increased only in Australia and New Zealand.
  • PS5 Pro prices remain unchanged across all markets.

Sony has increased the price of its PlayStation 5 Digital Edition in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, blaming “a challenging economic environment” for the hike.

The Digital Edition will now cost £429.99 in the UK and €499.99 in Europe—up from £389.99 and €449.99, as reported by CNBC . This marks the second major price rise in these regions since 2022.

The price increases affect both the Digital and standard disc-drive versions in Australia and New Zealand. The standard PS5 and the newer PS5 Pro are spared from price increases in Europe and the UK, keeping its current price in all markets. Sony also reduced the price of its attachable disc drive accessory slightly, as reported by The Verge .

The price hikes come as global inflation and currency fluctuations continue to strain tech companies. Sony explained it made the “tough decision” due to “high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates,” though it didn’t mention the newly imposed U.S. tariffs that are also likely contributing to rising costs.

President Trump recently announced “reciprocal tariffs” on over 180 countries, including a 145% tariff on game consoles imported from China—where Sony manufactures most PS5 units, as reported by PCMag . These tariffs don’t apply to smartphones, but consoles haven’t been exempted, and analysts believe U.S. prices will rise soon.

“I would be very surprised if Sony was able to keep the PlayStation prices in the US stable,” said Serkan Toto, CEO of Tokyo-based Kantan Games, as reported by CNBC. “Now is the ‘right’ time for the company to hike prices because user backlash would be comparably limited, he added.”