Scientists use AI to listen to sounds made by coral reefs

AI system could be an innovative way to rescue dying corals and revive them

A team of scientists from British and Indonesian Universities used Artificial Intelligence to listen to the sound of corals. Hundreds of such audio clips were used to create a computer program to gauge the health of the coral reefs. A healthy reef has a bustling sound emanating from it, almost like the sound of a campfire, because of all the life thriving on it. On the other hand, a dying coral reef would have a more desolate sound. The Artificial Intelligence system uses the frequency and decibel of the sound to determine if a reef is healthy or not.

According to the team's study in the Ecological Indicators Journal, the AI system can determine so with 92% accuracy. The new AI system could be an innovative way to rescue dying corals and revive them. Human-driven carbon emissions that cause the ocean's acidity to increase are the main reason the corals face stress. The world has lost around 14% of its corals. Corals are the lifelines of the ocean. Corals support around 25% of the marine biodiversity. Even though they cover only 1% of the ocean floor, they are teeming with biodiversity. Researchers hope to collect underwater recordings from reefs in Australia, the Virgin Islands, and Mexico to assess restoration projects.