Artificial intelligence may soon help us understand when animals are experiencing pain or other emotions, according to recent research featured in Science. One such project, Intellipig, is being developed by scientists at the University of the West of England Bristol and Scotland’s Rural College. This AI system analyzes photos of pigs’ faces to detect signs of pain, illness, or distress, providing farmers with valuable health insights.
Similarly, researchers at the University of Haifa—who previously created facial recognition software to help locate lost dogs—are now training AI to recognize discomfort in canines. Since dogs share 38% of their facial movements with humans, this technology could significantly improve animal welfare.
AI models in this field require human experts to label and interpret different animal behaviors based on extensive observations. However, a breakthrough study at the University of São Paulo suggests AI might learn these patterns independently. By analyzing photos of horses before and after surgery and following painkiller treatments, researchers trained an AI system to focus on key facial features—such as the eyes, ears, and mouth. Impressively, the system identified pain indicators with 88% accuracy.
As AI continues to advance, its potential to improve animal welfare and deepen our understanding of animal emotions is becoming more apparent.
