New research centre to explore how AI can help humans ‘speak’ with pets

Centre for animal sentience to look into animal consciousness and the ethical use of AI in how we treat them

If your cat's sulking, your dog's whining or your rabbit's doing that strange thing with its paws again, you will recognise that familiar pang of guilt shared by most other pet owners.

But for those who wish they knew just what was going on in the minds of their loyal companions, help may soon be at hand - thanks to the establishment of the first scientific institution dedicated to empirically investigating the consciousness of animals.