‘Whoop’ says the whale: New machine learning method could improve detection of endangered species

By Shel Evergreen. Published by MIT Scope, Dec. 14, 2021.

The North Atlantic right whale desperately needs a reason to cheer. Now it might just have one, and researchers are listening closely. There are only 368 of them in the world, making it one of the most endangered species. But a recent study used artificial intelligence to identify specific types of whale calls with close-to-perfect accuracy — a technological advancement with the potential to help save the species.

The right whale, which got its name for being the “right” whale to hunt due to its mass and slow speeds, is at risk of extinction. While hunting is no longer a threat, if one whale collides with a ship or becomes entangled in a fishing net, it has dire consequences for the entire species...

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