A new app has been developed to scan thousands of photos of cats to detect signs of pain on their faces, with the AI app's creators claiming it is more than 95% accurate.
Thursday, June 13, 2024 12:17 UK
A Japanese veterinarian and developer have developed an app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to look at a cat's face and detect whether it is in pain.
of artificial intelligence The app was trained using 6,000 photos. CatAccording to its developers, its accuracy is over 95%.
The director of Nihon University's Animal Medical Center, who was involved in the development of the app, said that while veterinarians like him can determine to some extent whether an animal is suffering, it is difficult for pet owners to do so.
“More than 70% of senior cats suffer from arthritis or pain, but only 2% actually go to the vet,” Edamura says.
“It's not a final diagnosis. [the app] As a tool to help the owner recognize whether the situation is normal or not.”
Since its release in 2015, the app has been used by more than 230,000 people. Japan last year.
Mayumi Kitakata lives in Tokyo with her 14-year-old cat, Chi. She uses an app to read Chi's face every day.
“He's at an age where his illnesses will become more and more severe,” Kitakata says.
“So being able to reduce the number of trips to the hospital while still consulting with the vet is really important to him and to me.”
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Pets are so popular in Japan that the Japan Pet Food Association estimates there were about 16 million cats and dogs kept as pets in the country last year, outnumbering the number of children under 15.
The app, called “CatsMe!”, was developed by researchers from Carelogy Inc. and Nihon University.
