WORK
Animal Language Models
2025
AI keeps trying to be more human, why can't it be more animal? And how can it be used to facilitate the communication between zoo and wild animals? By studying and visualizing individual animals’ ‘language’ - gestures, scents, and visual signals - AI can map the mechanisms of animal communication. Much like how LLM can be visualised as a shape outlining an irregular shaped galaxy of points, each representing a word, ALM’s (DBU) map animal language and allow comparison in ‘vocabulary’. When this data overlaps, new insights emerge. AI can help us understand how animals develop ‘cultures’ in different environments, being the zoo and their natural habitat. By analysing the geometric spaces between associated words or the shifted positions of words we are able to better understand how the animals view the artificial environment around them and gives us opportunities for change. 
/ Microsoft live-brief /
“AI and AI-powered tools are poised to transform the nature of work, what we do and how human endeavor is valued in different contexts by different people.” ALM explores a use of AI in the Zoo. Its artificial intelligence reflects the artificial nature of the zoo. Questioning where might AI be placed within this morally complex and artificial environment?

FIG 01. Animal Lingo Books

FIG 02. Gorilla Lingo Book

FIG 03. 'This not That' close up

FIG 04. 'This not That'

FIG 05. Overlapping wild and zoo chameleons language models

FIG 06. Close up of Gorilla ALM's

FIG 07. Wild and Zoo gorilla language models

FIG 08. ALM Hypothesis diagram

FIG 09. LLM Explained

FIG 10. Language mapping model

In collaboration with:
Billy HallErin BothaSnorre Havik