Ethical and Societal Implications of AI in Human-Animal Communication: Towards Responsible Interspecies Technology

This chapter explores the implications of AI technologies used in decoding animal vocalisations, emotion recognition, behavioural prediction, and robotic interaction. Employing a qualitative, interdisciplinary methodology that draws on philosophical analysis, ethical theory, including animal ethics and AI ethics, and empirical case studies, the work critically examines the impact of AI design choices on animal agency, consent, and welfare. Attention is also paid to broader societal issues, such as anthropomorphism, data bias, and the unequal effects of AI adoption in contexts like conservation and industrial farming. Furthermore, the chapter situates these interspecies technologies within the wider discourse on AI ethics, addressing concerns around fairness, transparency, accountability, data privacy, and digital inequality. It advocates for an ethics-by-design approach and participatory governance frameworks that incorporate the perspectives of ethicists, technologists, affected communities, and policymakers.