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Seven.One Studios Int’l to shop doc using AI to explore ethics of pig farming

Snowman Productions’ If Pigs Could Talk investigates pig communication

A documentary special commissioned by European broadcasters that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to decipher the language of pigs has been picked up by Seven.One Studios International.

ARD/NDR in Germany, DR in Denmark, RTS in Switzerland, NRK in Norway and SVT in Sweden have collaborated on If Pigs Could Talk (1×60’/1×75′), which is produced by Snowman Productions and directed by Miki Mistrati.

It follows a group of scientists who embarked on a unique experiment using advanced AI technology to translate pigs’ grunts, squeals and snorts into human language for the first time.

Together they collected more 7,000 recordings of pig speak from organic, free-range and mass-production farms – and lorries full of pigs destined for slaughter.

They then faced a blind test to interpret the recordings, without knowing their origins. In total, 19 distinct pig emotional expressions were identified.

Rooted in a decade-long collaborative scientific effort by the world-leading institutions and documented over a year, this thought-provoking experiment has the potential to challenge the trillion-dollar pork industry and redefine our relationship with food, the distributor said.

Tim Gerhartz, MD at ProSiebenSat.1 Media-owned Seven.One Studios International, said: “If Pigs Could Talk is a truly fascinating and unique documentary. Not only does it enable us to understand the language of these animals for the first time, but it has the potential to change the way we think about animal farming on a broader scale.

“It also effectively showcases the power of AI technology. We are sure this is a show that will interest and engage broadcasters and viewers around the world.”

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