LogoGlobal Dialogues

Sep 2025

Globe

Here’s what the world said about AI

In a first-of-its-kind study, the Earth Species Project and the Collective Intelligence Project conducted a global dialogue to understand how people around the world view the use of artificial intelligence to communicate with other species. This report summarizes the findings from 1,057 participants across 67 countries, exploring their hopes, concerns, and expectations for a future where technology might allow us to communicate with animals. The findings reveal a world that is both fascinated by the prospect of interspecies communication and deeply concerned about the ethical implications. Here are five key findings from the report:

1

A majority of people around the world believe that animals have rich inner lives, with 94% saying that they strongly or somewhat believe they have emotions, 91% strongly or somewhat believing they have languages, and 62% strongly or somewhat believing they have cultures.

2

Public opinion on using AI to understand animals is largely hopeful (47.7%) and curious (60.5%), but is tempered by pre-existing views on AI. Among AI optimists, 63.4% would trust AI's interpretations, compared to only 29.6% of AI skeptics.

3

There is significant public support (62.9%) for granting animals a voice in human decision-making, though there is no consensus on how to do so. While many support a role for animals in areas like environmental protection and agriculture, 37.1% believe animals should not participate in democratic processes at all.

4

An overwhelming global consensus exists on the need for strict regulation, with 84.9% of respondents agreeing that companies profiting from animals should be strictly regulated. Majorities also support banning specific uses like deception for commercial gain (68.3%) and overriding an animal’s natural instincts (62.5%).

5

The question of who owns animal-generated data is complex. There is no agreement on whether the data belongs to the community protecting the animals (39.7%), the human who records it (32.8%), or the animal itself (17.3%), signaling more legal and ethical work ahead.

Highlights

Global Beliefs in Animal Cognition & Culture

Majorities Believe Animals Possess Emotions, Languages, and Even Cultures

A key finding of this global dialogue is the widespread belief that animals have complex inner worlds. The data shows:

  • 94% of people strongly or somewhat believe that animals possess their own forms of emotion.
  • 91% strongly or somewhat believe that animals have their own languages.
  • 62% strongly or somewhat believe that animals have their own forms of culture.

This belief in animal sentience is a key driver of public interest in interspecies communication, with 70.1% of respondents saying they are "very interested" in knowing what animals would "say" or "feel". The primary emotions associated with this technology are curiosity (60.5%) and hope (47.7%), with a smaller but significant portion expressing concern (19.8%).

Attitudes Toward AI Shape Views on Interspecies Communication

A person's general disposition toward artificial intelligence is a strong predictor of their views on this specific application of the technology.

  • Among AI optimists, 56.8% describe this as a "good use" of AI, and 63.4% say they would trust AI's interpretations of animal communication.
  • Among AI skeptics, those numbers fall to 34.3% and 29.6%, respectively.

While curiosity and hope are the dominant emotions across both groups, skeptics are far more likely to report concern (32.4%) than optimists (12.2%). This suggests that building public trust in AI for interspecies communication will require addressing broader societal concerns about the technology.

Democratic Participation & Legal Representation

Strong Support for Animals Having a Voice in Decisions that Affect Them

A majority of respondents support animals having some role in human democratic processes. Options included direct voting on issues that affect them, proxy representation, or advisory roles. Nearly half also endorse legal representation for animals, such as a lawyer or human guardian to defend their rights.

When asked what kinds of decisions should be informed by animal voices, 77.4% cite environmental laws and protections, 61.5% cite agriculture, and 47.3% cite urban planning. Smaller shares emphasize areas such as human health (40.3%) and education (36.3%).

Respondents show no consensus on how far this should go. While some envision animals as a formal constituency in government, 37.1% believe animals should not participate in democratic processes at all.

Governance & Guardrails

Overwhelming Public Support for Regulation of AI-Assisted Interspecies Communication

Across all regions and demographic groups, there is a strong and clear call for regulation.

  • 84.9% of respondents agree that companies profiting from animals—such as farms, zoos, or entertainment industries—should be strictly regulated in how they use this technology to communicate with them.

There is also majority support for banning specific uses of AI-assisted interspecies communication, including:

  • Deception for commercial gain (68.3%)
  • Inciting violence (62.7%)
  • Overriding an animal's natural instincts for human benefit (62.5%)

The public's primary concern is not the technology itself, but its potential for misuse by humans, particularly for exploitation and commercial gain.

The Unsettled Question of Ownership and Data Rights

No Consensus on Who Should Own Animal-Generated Data

The question of who owns the data generated by animals—such as a recording of a whale's song or a bird's call—is a new and complex issue with no public consensus. The most common responses were:

  • The community protecting those animals (39.7%)
  • The human who records it (32.8%)
  • The animal itself (17.3%)

This lack of agreement underscores the novel legal and ethical questions that will arise as technology makes it possible to capture and interpret the "data" of the natural world.

Conclusion

This global dialogue reveals a world that is ready and eager to listen to what other species have to say, but is also keenly aware of the responsibilities that come with this new technological capability. The findings highlight a clear public mandate for the development of AI-assisted interspecies communication to be guided by strong ethical principles, robust governance, and a commitment to preventing exploitation. As this technology continues to develop, it will be crucial to foster a global conversation about how to use it to build a more respectful and sustainable relationship with the rest of the natural world.

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