For decades, researchers believed that whales communicated using a sort of underwater Morse code—simple, repeated patterns of clicks. But recent advances in technology have revealed a much more complex, even human-like language. Now, with artificial intelligence, scientists are getting closer than ever to translating their vocalizations. UC Berkeley’s Gašper Beguš is one such researcher building advanced AI to learn and decipher sperm whale communication. But what happens when we crack the code? What might whales tell us—and what would be the practical, ethical, and legal implications of what we learn?
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This episode was written and hosted by Leah Worthington and Nat Alcantara and produced by Coby McDonald.
Special thanks to Gašper Beguš, Pat Joseph, and Laura Smith. Art by Michiko Toki and original music by Mogli Maureal. Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions.
