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
November 16, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Gasper Begus
I'm teaching a new class at Berkeley next semester:
Linguistics 265: Biological and Artificial Language
From the syllabus:
This class is an introduction to a novel approach to language. Linguistics has predominantly focused on
human language.
Linguistics 265: Biological and Artificial Language
From the syllabus:
This class is an introduction to a novel approach to language. Linguistics has predominantly focused on
human language.
November 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I'm teaching a new class at Berkeley next semester:
Linguistics 265: Biological and Artificial Language
From the syllabus:
This class is an introduction to a novel approach to language. Linguistics has predominantly focused on
human language.
Linguistics 265: Biological and Artificial Language
From the syllabus:
This class is an introduction to a novel approach to language. Linguistics has predominantly focused on
human language.
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Wish I could take it. I also hope they look later into markets: LLMs are obviously hot these days in language, but I've always had a soft spot for markets as pseudo-minds[1].
[1] i.e. an Azatoth-egregore muttering to itself at high-frequency while the press mistranslates its nonhuman thoughts.
[1] i.e. an Azatoth-egregore muttering to itself at high-frequency while the press mistranslates its nonhuman thoughts.
I'm teaching a new class at Berkeley next semester:
Linguistics 265: Biological and Artificial Language
From the syllabus:
This class is an introduction to a novel approach to language. Linguistics has predominantly focused on
human language.
Linguistics 265: Biological and Artificial Language
From the syllabus:
This class is an introduction to a novel approach to language. Linguistics has predominantly focused on
human language.
November 24, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Wish I could take it. I also hope they look later into markets: LLMs are obviously hot these days in language, but I've always had a soft spot for markets as pseudo-minds[1].
[1] i.e. an Azatoth-egregore muttering to itself at high-frequency while the press mistranslates its nonhuman thoughts.
[1] i.e. an Azatoth-egregore muttering to itself at high-frequency while the press mistranslates its nonhuman thoughts.
Reposted by Gasper Begus
My idea of Heaven (like, when you have all the time you want, good health, no obligations, no guilt, and no FOMO) - Heaven is taking courses like that. That's Heaven.
I'm teaching a new class at Berkeley next semester:
Linguistics 265: Biological and Artificial Language
From the syllabus:
This class is an introduction to a novel approach to language. Linguistics has predominantly focused on
human language.
Linguistics 265: Biological and Artificial Language
From the syllabus:
This class is an introduction to a novel approach to language. Linguistics has predominantly focused on
human language.
November 24, 2025 at 6:58 PM
My idea of Heaven (like, when you have all the time you want, good health, no obligations, no guilt, and no FOMO) - Heaven is taking courses like that. That's Heaven.
Vice versa, using linguistic methodology in animal communication and AI can help us gain a better understanding of both artificial and biological language and intelligence
November 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Vice versa, using linguistic methodology in animal communication and AI can help us gain a better understanding of both artificial and biological language and intelligence
The class will introduce a multifaceted approach with human, non-human, and artificial language acting as mutually informative systems. By learning about non human language, we will better understand human language and its uniqueness.
.
.
November 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The class will introduce a multifaceted approach with human, non-human, and artificial language acting as mutually informative systems. By learning about non human language, we will better understand human language and its uniqueness.
.
.
Recent developments in machine learning and animal communication, however, require us to look beyond the humans. We will extend the definition of language and model it as informative imitation.
November 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Recent developments in machine learning and animal communication, however, require us to look beyond the humans. We will extend the definition of language and model it as informative imitation.
I'm teaching a new class at Berkeley next semester:
Linguistics 265: Biological and Artificial Language
From the syllabus:
This class is an introduction to a novel approach to language. Linguistics has predominantly focused on
human language.
Linguistics 265: Biological and Artificial Language
From the syllabus:
This class is an introduction to a novel approach to language. Linguistics has predominantly focused on
human language.
November 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I'm teaching a new class at Berkeley next semester:
Linguistics 265: Biological and Artificial Language
From the syllabus:
This class is an introduction to a novel approach to language. Linguistics has predominantly focused on
human language.
Linguistics 265: Biological and Artificial Language
From the syllabus:
This class is an introduction to a novel approach to language. Linguistics has predominantly focused on
human language.
Reposted by Gasper Begus
I still have to read it and look at the data (I had a lot of fun poking at a previous papers' - kudos on their openess) but if nothing else this is the sort of science I'm in love with regardless of how far it gets: how could we not try?
by @begus.bsky.social et al at @projectceti.bsky.social
by @begus.bsky.social et al at @projectceti.bsky.social
Vowel- and Diphthong-Like Spectral Patterns in Sperm Whale Codas
Abstract. The sperm whale communication system, consisting of groups of clicks called codas, has been primarily analyzed in terms of the number of clicks and their inter-click timing. This paper repor...
direct.mit.edu
November 22, 2025 at 10:44 PM
I still have to read it and look at the data (I had a lot of fun poking at a previous papers' - kudos on their openess) but if nothing else this is the sort of science I'm in love with regardless of how far it gets: how could we not try?
by @begus.bsky.social et al at @projectceti.bsky.social
by @begus.bsky.social et al at @projectceti.bsky.social
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Thank you @popsci.com and @laurabaisas.bsky.social for highlighting our research!
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.
November 21, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Thank you @popsci.com and @laurabaisas.bsky.social for highlighting our research!
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
fascinating research via @projectceti.bsky.social
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 18, 2025 at 3:11 PM
fascinating research via @projectceti.bsky.social
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Thursday, 6.30 pm Pacific time!
I'm giving a talk in Hong Kong soon and am amazed to see over 250 people have registered!
www.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/web/events/a...
www.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/web/events/a...
November 20, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Thursday, 6.30 pm Pacific time!
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Read the rest of the conversations here: doi.org/10.1162/OPMI...
Vowel- and Diphthong-Like Spectral Patterns in Sperm Whale Codas
Abstract. The sperm whale communication system, consisting of groups of clicks called codas, has been primarily analyzed in terms of the number of clicks and their inter-click timing. This paper repor...
doi.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Read the rest of the conversations here: doi.org/10.1162/OPMI...
Read the rest of the conversations here: doi.org/10.1162/OPMI...
Vowel- and Diphthong-Like Spectral Patterns in Sperm Whale Codas
Abstract. The sperm whale communication system, consisting of groups of clicks called codas, has been primarily analyzed in terms of the number of clicks and their inter-click timing. This paper repor...
doi.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Read the rest of the conversations here: doi.org/10.1162/OPMI...
Reposted by Gasper Begus
A whale conversation in whale vowels. Pinchy the whale and her conversant.
The vowels are so clear that they can be transcribed with our human letters.
aye, aye!
The vowels are so clear that they can be transcribed with our human letters.
aye, aye!
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 AM
A whale conversation in whale vowels. Pinchy the whale and her conversant.
The vowels are so clear that they can be transcribed with our human letters.
aye, aye!
The vowels are so clear that they can be transcribed with our human letters.
aye, aye!
Reposted by Gasper Begus
as baleias: ai ai..
A whale conversation in whale vowels. Pinchy the whale and her conversant.
The vowels are so clear that they can be transcribed with our human letters.
aye, aye!
The vowels are so clear that they can be transcribed with our human letters.
aye, aye!
November 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM
as baleias: ai ai..
Reposted by Gasper Begus
"Spectral Patterns in Sperm Whale Codas" is the title of a poem from some lost New York School poet.
A whale conversation in whale vowels. Pinchy the whale and her conversant.
The vowels are so clear that they can be transcribed with our human letters.
aye, aye!
The vowels are so clear that they can be transcribed with our human letters.
aye, aye!
November 19, 2025 at 2:31 AM
"Spectral Patterns in Sperm Whale Codas" is the title of a poem from some lost New York School poet.
A whale conversation in whale vowels. Pinchy the whale and her conversant.
The vowels are so clear that they can be transcribed with our human letters.
aye, aye!
The vowels are so clear that they can be transcribed with our human letters.
aye, aye!
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 AM
A whale conversation in whale vowels. Pinchy the whale and her conversant.
The vowels are so clear that they can be transcribed with our human letters.
aye, aye!
The vowels are so clear that they can be transcribed with our human letters.
aye, aye!
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Fascinating! Decoding #SpermWhale vowel sounds :)) #whales #Wildlife #Nature
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 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Fascinating! Decoding #SpermWhale vowel sounds :)) #whales #Wildlife #Nature
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Vowel Sounds 'Thought To Be Unique To Humans' Discovered In Sperm Whales For The First Time
Vowel Sounds 'Thought To Be Unique To Humans' Discovered In Sperm Whales For The First Time
Sperm whales can alter the frequency of their clicks to make “a” and “i” sounds.
www.iflscience.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Vowel Sounds 'Thought To Be Unique To Humans' Discovered In Sperm Whales For The First Time
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Researchers from @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social discover human-like whale "vowels" in how sperm whales communicate, in a promising use case for AI:
ls.berkeley.edu/news/uc-berk...
ls.berkeley.edu/news/uc-berk...
UC Berkeley and Project CETI study shows sperm whales communicate in ways similar to humans
The way sperm whales communicate may be more similar to human language than previously thought. The acoustic properties of whale calls resemble vowels, a defining feature of human language, according ...
ls.berkeley.edu
November 18, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Researchers from @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social discover human-like whale "vowels" in how sperm whales communicate, in a promising use case for AI:
ls.berkeley.edu/news/uc-berk...
ls.berkeley.edu/news/uc-berk...
Reposted by Gasper Begus
whales know vowels !!!! science is so cool
🧪
🧪
Vowel Sounds "Thought To Be Unique To Humans" Discovered In Sperm Whales For The First Time
www.iflscience.com/vowel-sounds...
www.iflscience.com/vowel-sounds...
Eavesdropping On Sperm Whales Just Revealed They Use Vowel Sounds "Thought To Be Unique To Humans"
Sperm whales can alter the frequency of their clicks to make “a” and “i” sounds.
www.iflscience.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:06 PM
whales know vowels !!!! science is so cool
🧪
🧪
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Vowel Sounds "Thought To Be Unique To Humans" Discovered In Sperm Whales For The First Time
www.iflscience.com/vowel-sounds...
www.iflscience.com/vowel-sounds...
Eavesdropping On Sperm Whales Just Revealed They Use Vowel Sounds "Thought To Be Unique To Humans"
Sperm whales can alter the frequency of their clicks to make “a” and “i” sounds.
www.iflscience.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Vowel Sounds "Thought To Be Unique To Humans" Discovered In Sperm Whales For The First Time
www.iflscience.com/vowel-sounds...
www.iflscience.com/vowel-sounds...
Reposted by Gasper Begus
Thank you @iflscience.com and @rachaelhfunnell.bsky.social for featuring our research!
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.
Vowel Sounds "Thought To Be Unique To Humans" Discovered In Sperm Whales For The First Time
www.iflscience.com/vowel-sounds...
www.iflscience.com/vowel-sounds...
Eavesdropping On Sperm Whales Just Revealed They Use Vowel Sounds "Thought To Be Unique To Humans"
Sperm whales can alter the frequency of their clicks to make “a” and “i” sounds.
www.iflscience.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Thank you @iflscience.com and @rachaelhfunnell.bsky.social for featuring our research!
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
