Everyone desires to communicate with their pets. Or at least attempt to get them to pay attention. It’s no surprise that some innovative companies believe that technology can help bridge the communication gap between you and your furry friend. Enter a realm of AI-driven collars for dogs and cats designed to interpret a pet’s needs and convey those desires to their owner. The catch with these gadgets is that the pet will not actually be involved in the dialogue, as the collar merely speculates on the pet’s thoughts—yet it’s still the one doing all the communicating. It’s not quite like the audio collar featured on the dog from the film Up, but more akin to yelling at a chatbot attached to your dog’s neck. Meanwhile, your pet might just be trying to understand the source of that unfamiliar voice.
Later in the episode, we delve into the unusual new ways AI devices are integrating into our lives, and whether any of them are truly enhancing our conversations.
This week also marks the concluding episode of the Gadget Lab podcast—in its current iteration, at least. We will return soon with an exciting revamp of the show. Lauren and Michael will be back as hosts, along with a new third co-host, a fresh podcast title, and a new perspective on our coverage.
Stay tuned here for the revamped version of the show, launching on October 31! Check out Boone’s articles about the talking pet collars and the AI-powered Friend necklace. Read Lauren’s piece on the challenges associated with AI hardware. Keep an eye on the various ways AI is becoming intertwined in our daily routines. For all your gadget interests, follow WIRED’s extensive gear coverage.
Boone suggests enjoying the rain, while Lauren encourages people to take walks. Mike shares that KEXP’s YouTube channel is a great resource, featuring performances by musical artists in the Seattle radio station’s studio.
Boone Ashworth is active on social media, but given his transition to a full-time reporter at WIRED, it’s best to send him story tips via email: boone@wired.com. You can find Lauren Goode on Twitter as @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore can be reached at @snackfight@heads.social. To contact the GadgetLab team, message @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth, known on Twitter as @booneashworth. Our theme music is created by Solar Keys.
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