Gasper Begus
@begus.bsky.social
Assoc. Professor at UC Berkeley
Artificial and biological intelligence and language
Linguistics Lead at Project CETI 🐳
PI Berkeley Biological and Artificial Language Lab 🗣️
College Principal of Bowles Hall 🏰
https://www.gasperbegus.com
Artificial and biological intelligence and language
Linguistics Lead at Project CETI 🐳
PI Berkeley Biological and Artificial Language Lab 🗣️
College Principal of Bowles Hall 🏰
https://www.gasperbegus.com
Reposted by Gasper Begus
#Whales #WhaleLanguage #ScienceRocks
Fascinating article. Whales are smart!
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Fascinating article. Whales are smart!
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Exclusive: Sperm whale speech has human-like 'vowels'
The mammals' mysterious clicks contain a stunning level of complexity, a new study shows.
www.yahoo.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:00 PM
#Whales #WhaleLanguage #ScienceRocks
Fascinating article. Whales are smart!
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Fascinating article. Whales are smart!
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Sperm #whales use vowels like humans, new study finds
Scientists decoding whale clicks found patterns that echo the building blocks of human speech
www.popsci.com/environment/... #globalmuseum #language
Scientists decoding whale clicks found patterns that echo the building blocks of human speech
www.popsci.com/environment/... #globalmuseum #language
November 14, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Sperm #whales use vowels like humans, new study finds
Scientists decoding whale clicks found patterns that echo the building blocks of human speech
www.popsci.com/environment/... #globalmuseum #language
Scientists decoding whale clicks found patterns that echo the building blocks of human speech
www.popsci.com/environment/... #globalmuseum #language
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Exclusive: Sperm whale speech has human-like 'vowels' https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/sperm-whale-communicate-vowels 🐋 #cetaceans #marinemammals #marinelife #marinebiology #whales #Science
Exclusive: Sperm whale speech has human-like 'vowels'
The mammals' mysterious clicks contain a stunning level of complexity, a new study shows.
www.nationalgeographic.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Exclusive: Sperm whale speech has human-like 'vowels' https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/sperm-whale-communicate-vowels 🐋 #cetaceans #marinemammals #marinelife #marinebiology #whales #Science
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Thank you National Geographic and @chameauleon.bsky.social for featuring our research! By: @begus.bsky.social, Ronald Sprouse, Andrej Leban, Miles Silva and Shane Gero.
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
Exclusive: Sperm whale speech has human-like 'vowels'
The mammals' mysterious clicks contain a stunning level of complexity, a new study shows.
www.nationalgeographic.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Thank you National Geographic and @chameauleon.bsky.social for featuring our research! By: @begus.bsky.social, Ronald Sprouse, Andrej Leban, Miles Silva and Shane Gero.
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Thank you @economist.com for covering our paper,“Vowel and Diphthong-Like Spectral Patterns in Sperm Whale Codas.”
By: @begus.bsky.social, Ronald Sprouse, Andrej Leban, Miles Silva and Shane Gero.
By: @begus.bsky.social, Ronald Sprouse, Andrej Leban, Miles Silva and Shane Gero.
The clicks that the animals make share at least one property with human language
Sperm whales communicate with vowels
The clicks that the animals make share at least one property with human language
econ.st
November 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Thank you @economist.com for covering our paper,“Vowel and Diphthong-Like Spectral Patterns in Sperm Whale Codas.”
By: @begus.bsky.social, Ronald Sprouse, Andrej Leban, Miles Silva and Shane Gero.
By: @begus.bsky.social, Ronald Sprouse, Andrej Leban, Miles Silva and Shane Gero.
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Whowels!
The clicks that the animals make share at least one property with human language
Sperm whales communicate with vowels
The clicks that the animals make share at least one property with human language
econ.st
November 12, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Whowels!
Reposted by Gasper Begus
As a former opera singer this makes perfect sense. Consonants are typically brief, & plosive sounds can't be sustained. But vowel sounds can be sustained for long durations (how much breath do you have?) and with more volume - perfect for underwater long distance communication 🐳
The clicks that the animals make share at least one property with human language
Sperm whales communicate with vowels
The clicks that the animals make share at least one property with human language
econ.st
November 12, 2025 at 11:07 PM
As a former opera singer this makes perfect sense. Consonants are typically brief, & plosive sounds can't be sustained. But vowel sounds can be sustained for long durations (how much breath do you have?) and with more volume - perfect for underwater long distance communication 🐳
Whowels!
The clicks that the animals make share at least one property with human language
Sperm whales communicate with vowels
The clicks that the animals make share at least one property with human language
econ.st
November 12, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Whowels!
Reposted by Gasper Begus
The clicks that the animals make share at least one property with human language
Sperm whales communicate with vowels
The clicks that the animals make share at least one property with human language
econ.st
November 12, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The clicks that the animals make share at least one property with human language
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Dipthong song.
CETI scientists have discovered vowel and diphthong-like patterns in sperm whale communication! Read: bit.ly/3WSn9rc
By: @begus.bsky.social, Ronald Sprouse, Andrej Leban, Miles Silva & Shane Gero.
@ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social, @umich.edu, @carleton.ca, @csail.mit.edu
Animation: Meghan Fenske
By: @begus.bsky.social, Ronald Sprouse, Andrej Leban, Miles Silva & Shane Gero.
@ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social, @umich.edu, @carleton.ca, @csail.mit.edu
Animation: Meghan Fenske
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Dipthong song.
Reposted by Gasper Begus
CETI scientists have discovered vowel and diphthong-like patterns in sperm whale communication! Read: bit.ly/3WSn9rc
By: @begus.bsky.social, Ronald Sprouse, Andrej Leban, Miles Silva & Shane Gero.
@ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social, @umich.edu, @carleton.ca, @csail.mit.edu
Animation: Meghan Fenske
By: @begus.bsky.social, Ronald Sprouse, Andrej Leban, Miles Silva & Shane Gero.
@ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social, @umich.edu, @carleton.ca, @csail.mit.edu
Animation: Meghan Fenske
November 12, 2025 at 3:26 PM
CETI scientists have discovered vowel and diphthong-like patterns in sperm whale communication! Read: bit.ly/3WSn9rc
By: @begus.bsky.social, Ronald Sprouse, Andrej Leban, Miles Silva & Shane Gero.
@ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social, @umich.edu, @carleton.ca, @csail.mit.edu
Animation: Meghan Fenske
By: @begus.bsky.social, Ronald Sprouse, Andrej Leban, Miles Silva & Shane Gero.
@ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social, @umich.edu, @carleton.ca, @csail.mit.edu
Animation: Meghan Fenske
Reposted by Gasper Begus
What it means to be human in the age of AI and biotechnology?
Take a look at the English translation of my speech from the Science Day celebration in Slovenia: medium.com/@begus.nina/...
Take a look at the English translation of my speech from the Science Day celebration in Slovenia: medium.com/@begus.nina/...
November 11, 2025 at 8:23 PM
What it means to be human in the age of AI and biotechnology?
Take a look at the English translation of my speech from the Science Day celebration in Slovenia: medium.com/@begus.nina/...
Take a look at the English translation of my speech from the Science Day celebration in Slovenia: medium.com/@begus.nina/...
Artificial Humanities launches in a conversation with Ted Chiang and James Yu at the Commonwealth club!
November 11, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Artificial Humanities launches in a conversation with Ted Chiang and James Yu at the Commonwealth club!
Reposted by Gasper Begus
The Artificial Humanities preorders have arrived! Get your copy here:
www.amazon.com/Artificial-H...
www.amazon.com/Artificial-H...
November 4, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The Artificial Humanities preorders have arrived! Get your copy here:
www.amazon.com/Artificial-H...
www.amazon.com/Artificial-H...
Reposted by Gasper Begus
What distinguishes humanity? The answer has often come back to our language abilities. But some linguists think that eventually, AI will demonstrate an understanding of language that’s better than our own.
In a First, AI Models Analyze Language As Well As a Human Expert | Quanta Magazine
If language is what makes us human, what does it mean now that large language models have gained “metalinguistic” abilities?
www.quantamagazine.org
November 7, 2025 at 9:04 PM
What distinguishes humanity? The answer has often come back to our language abilities. But some linguists think that eventually, AI will demonstrate an understanding of language that’s better than our own.
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Thank you @insideclimatenews.org and @katiesurma.bsky.social for diving into our recent publication in partnership with The More-Than-Human Life Program (@nyulaw.bsky.social) by: César Rodríguez Garavito, David Gruber, Ashley Otilia Nemeth and @begus.bsky.social.
Researchers are using AI to understand whale communications. The findings could put animals’ voices at the heart of legal battles to protect them.
AI Is Decoding Whales’ Communications. Could That Be a Turning Point in the Push for Their Rights? - Inside Climate News
The Cetacean Translation Initiative (CETI) is using artificial intelligence to help understand sperm whale communications. Lawyers think the discoveries could galvanize the world to recognize whales’ ...
insideclimatenews.org
November 5, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Thank you @insideclimatenews.org and @katiesurma.bsky.social for diving into our recent publication in partnership with The More-Than-Human Life Program (@nyulaw.bsky.social) by: César Rodríguez Garavito, David Gruber, Ashley Otilia Nemeth and @begus.bsky.social.
The Artificial Humanities preorders have arrived! Get your copy here:
www.amazon.com/Artificial-H...
www.amazon.com/Artificial-H...
November 4, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The Artificial Humanities preorders have arrived! Get your copy here:
www.amazon.com/Artificial-H...
www.amazon.com/Artificial-H...
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Recursion, the linguistic ability to embed phrases within phrases, is perhaps the defining characteristic of the human mind. It also shows up in nature. www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-a...
November 1, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Recursion, the linguistic ability to embed phrases within phrases, is perhaps the defining characteristic of the human mind. It also shows up in nature. www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-a...
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Language can be tricky to parse without context. For instance, the sentence “Rowan fed his pet chicken” is ambiguous. Is the chicken Rowan’s pet or his pet’s meal? Some AI models can recognize the syntactic differences between these two possible meanings.
In a First, AI Models Analyze Language As Well As a Human Expert | Quanta Magazine
If language is what makes us human, what does it mean now that large language models have gained “metalinguistic” abilities?
www.quantamagazine.org
November 2, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Language can be tricky to parse without context. For instance, the sentence “Rowan fed his pet chicken” is ambiguous. Is the chicken Rowan’s pet or his pet’s meal? Some AI models can recognize the syntactic differences between these two possible meanings.
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Whoa, this is a stunning breakthrough. For the first time, AI models can analyze language as well as a human expert. This raises fascinating, huge questions about what it means to be human. An... https://www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-ai-models-analyze-language-as-well-as-a-human-expert-20251031/
In a First, AI Models Analyze Language As Well As a Human Expert
If language is what makes us human, what does it mean now that large language models have gained “metalinguistic” abilities? The post In a First, AI Models Analyze Language As Well As a Human Expert first appeared on Quanta Magazine
www.quantamagazine.org
October 31, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Whoa, this is a stunning breakthrough. For the first time, AI models can analyze language as well as a human expert. This raises fascinating, huge questions about what it means to be human. An... https://www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-ai-models-analyze-language-as-well-as-a-human-expert-20251031/
Reposted by Gasper Begus
#AI Models analyse language as well as a human expert- If language is what makes us human, what does it mean now that #LLLs have gained “metalinguistic” abilities?https://www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-ai-models-analyze-language-as-well-as-a-human-expert-20251031/
In a First, AI Models Analyze Language As Well As a Human Expert | Quanta Magazine
If language is what makes us human, what does it mean now that large language models have gained “metalinguistic” abilities?
www.quantamagazine.org
October 31, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Reposted by Gasper Begus
🎃 LLMs can do linguistics 👻
Across history, linguists have insisted that language sets humans apart from other species. But a new study demonstrating AI’s startlingly complex “metalinguistic” skills threatens to throw mankind’s exclusivity out the window.
www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-a...
www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-a...
In a First, AI Models Analyze Language As Well As a Human Expert | Quanta Magazine
If language is what makes us human, what does it mean now that large language models have gained “metalinguistic” abilities?
www.quantamagazine.org
November 1, 2025 at 12:26 AM
🎃 LLMs can do linguistics 👻
🎃 LLMs can do linguistics 👻
Across history, linguists have insisted that language sets humans apart from other species. But a new study demonstrating AI’s startlingly complex “metalinguistic” skills threatens to throw mankind’s exclusivity out the window.
www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-a...
www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-a...
In a First, AI Models Analyze Language As Well As a Human Expert | Quanta Magazine
If language is what makes us human, what does it mean now that large language models have gained “metalinguistic” abilities?
www.quantamagazine.org
November 1, 2025 at 12:26 AM
🎃 LLMs can do linguistics 👻
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Across history, linguists have insisted that language sets humans apart from other species. But a new study demonstrating AI’s startlingly complex “metalinguistic” skills threatens to throw mankind’s exclusivity out the window.
www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-a...
www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-a...
In a First, AI Models Analyze Language As Well As a Human Expert | Quanta Magazine
If language is what makes us human, what does it mean now that large language models have gained “metalinguistic” abilities?
www.quantamagazine.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Across history, linguists have insisted that language sets humans apart from other species. But a new study demonstrating AI’s startlingly complex “metalinguistic” skills threatens to throw mankind’s exclusivity out the window.
www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-a...
www.quantamagazine.org/in-a-first-a...