Can AI Talk Whale?
ABC News
ENRICHED
Details
- Date Published
- 29 May 2026
- Priority Score
- 1
- Australian
- Yes
- Created
- 30 May 2026, 08:00 pm
Description
A panel discussion from the Australian National Maritime Museum explores the use of AI tools in ocean research.
Summary
This panel discussion explores the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence in marine biology, specifically for identifying individual whales and mapping seafloor topographies. While focusing on niche scientific capabilities, the discourse touches on the future potential of interspecies communication and the use of large-scale data processing in environmental conservation. The content does not address existential or catastrophic AI risks, focusing instead on narrow AI applications within a scientific research context. It represents a specific Australian cultural and academic engagement with AI through the vessel of the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Body
Artificial intelligence is already being used in the oceans as marine scientists use AI tools to identify whales and map the sea floor. So how might these tools be used in the future? This was the topic of a panel discussion, Can AI Talk Whale?, held at the Australian National Maritime Museum earlier this year, and hosted by museum curator Emily Jateff.SpeakersMC Emily Jateff – Senior Curator, Australian National Maritime Museum.Catherine Ball – author and futuristVanessa Pirotta – whale expert, lecturer, Macquarie UniversityMatt Okine – actor, writer, presenter and comedianPresentersBelinda SmithRobyn WilliamsImage DetailsL-R: Emily Jateff, Catherine Ball, Vanessa Pirotta, Matt Okine.(Marinco Kojdanovski)Program:More from The Science ShowOceans Appears In AI tools in ocean research and a tribute to Dame Bridget OgilvieDuration: 53 minutes 24 seconds53m 2itemsIn this episode1 of 2Vale Bridget Ogilvie2 of 2PlayingCan AI talk whale?