Will there ever be a Google Translate for pets?

The tech world is on the case – but there’s no guarantee that our animals will have anything interesting to say

By Imogen West-Knights

Something was wrong with Bunny. Her owner, Alexis Devine, an artist and jewellery designer in her 40s, had just brought her back from an autumn walk near their home in Tacoma, Washington. Normally Bunny, a bubbly young sheepadoodle, would be exhausted by the exercise, but today she wouldn’t settle down. For most dog-owners, this would be the beginning of a frustrating guesswork process. Was Bunny hungry? Did she need to go to the toilet? Was she bored?

Explore more

More from 1843 magazine

1843 magazine | The year in pictures 2024

Images that defined the year

1843 magazine | To the manor bought: the Americans who want to be British lords

The market for “noble” titles is booming


1843 magazine | The earthling’s guide to building a Moon base

One-armed robots are being trained in lunar construction


1843 magazine | Inside the AI back-channel between China and the West

Computer scientists are reaching out across the geopolitical divide to try to stop an apocalypse

1843 magazine | A journey through the world’s newest narco-state

Drugs transformed Ecuador from a Latin American success story into a war zone

1843 magazine | The radioactive flood threatening Central Asia’s breadbasket

What it’s like to live with nuclear waste on your doorstep