Will humans one day talk to animals? This scientist is bringing us closer

- The article covers recent advances in "animal communication science," using AI and machine learning to decipher animal sounds — not just basic calls but syntax, emotion, and language-like structures in whales, bats, and elephants. - The scientist is likely Dr. Karen Bakker (author of *The Sounds of Life*), who argues that digital sensors, bioacoustics, and neural networks are decoding non-human communication in unprecedented ways. - This is part of "digital bioacoustics": a trend where cheap recording devices and AI pattern recognition analyze animal signals at scale, a field that has surged as ML tools improved. - The realistic goal is not Dr. Dolittle-style conversation but interpreting complex signals (e.g., bats "arguing" over food) and perhaps sending basic responses, which raises ethical questions about consent and interference in animal societies.