Scientists believe we could be chatting with DOLPHINS by 2021 thanks to new artificial intelligence software
Experts reckon we'll have a dolphin vocabulary guide to help us understand their distinctive 'clicks and whistles' within four years
CAN you squeak?
Then you're halfway to having a natter with a dolphin.
Scientists reckon humans will be communicating with our aquatic friends by 2021.
A group of researchers are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to create a piece of dolphin language analysis software
Swedish language technology company Gavagai AB is working with KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm to create the dolphin language dictionary.
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Unfortunately, it's not quite like the Spanish vocabulary guide collecting dust on your dresser, as it's the computers which will be making the noises, not us.
Sophisticated algorithms will record sounds made by bottlenose dolphins in a wildlife park in Sweden and will store them in a database.
It's not entirely clear how they will translate the squeaks, but in an email sent out by the company, Gavagai co-founder Jussi Karlgren wrote: "We hope to be able to understand dolphins with the help of artificial intelligence technology."
"We know that dolphins have a complex communication system, but we don’t know what they are talking about yet."
He said the research, which has been given a four-year deadline, will improve his existing products.
Dolphins are understood to be highly intelligent, and marine biologists believe their own language could be complex as humans'.
There is also a common conception - perpetuated by several popular Hollywood films - that dolphins can understand and empathise with us.
Amusement parks such as SeaWorld have capitalised on the mammal's intelligence, training them to jump and swim by communicating with simple hand gestures - and sparking backlash from animal rights groups.
The US navy are even using the animals in their Californian Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific.
It's reported that dolphins and sea lions have been used to detect underwater mines.
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