A new smart collar has been developed to create the sensation that pet owners are conversing with their pets. The invention, called Shazam, is equipped with a microphone and a speaker, allowing the animal to “respond” with a pre-recorded voice.
Although the animals aren’t actually communicating, the goal is to generate the illusion that they have a human-like personality. Initially, the device is available only for dogs and cats, but the company behind the idea, Personifi AI, plans to expand to other animals and even humans.
The concept emerged after an incident involving the collar’s creator, John McHale, whose dog was bitten by a rattlesnake. This episode inspired him to think of more direct forms of communication between owners and their pets.
In addition to creating the feeling of dialogue, the collar has practical functionalities, such as detecting dangerous sounds and monitoring routines. The technology also offers levels of customization, allowing users to choose from 27 voices and personalities for their pet, ranging from funny to serious.
The collars start at $495 for cats and $595 for dogs, with annual subscriptions that provide advanced functionalities like empathy and reasoning. Without these subscriptions, the collar loses some of its more dynamic features.
Despite the functionalities aimed at the well-being and safety of the animal, such as detecting dangers and feeding reminders, critics point out that the device may not significantly improve the connection between pets and humans, as animals do not understand language in the same way.
Ultimately, experts question the collar’s effectiveness in genuinely aiding communication with animals, especially with cats, whose behaviors can be more difficult to interpret. While the safety features are commendable, using the collar to create comedic interactions could trivialize animal behavior. At its core, the best way to understand a pet still lies in observing them in their own environment and language, without the need for an artificial “voice.”
Source: Wired | Photos: Freepik | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
