AI zoo keeper joins panda team at zoo, offers real-time information

MADRID - A unique zoo keeper, developed using artificial intelligence (AI) and synthetic biology, has joined the giant panda support team at Madrid Zoo Aquarium, providing information about Jin Xi and Zhu Yu, the panda pair that arrived from China in April, Xinhua reported.

Irenia, a digital avatar previously featured on the zoo's TikTok channel delivering educational insights about the pandas, has now taken a significant step forward, offering real-time information to visitors.

Developed by experts in consumer experience, cybersecurity, and big data, Irenia is now featured on a large screen positioned behind the giant panda enclosure at the zoo.

An expert in all panda-related issues, Irenia uses cloud technology to answer visitors' questions about the animals and other aspects of the zoo in both English and Spanish, incorporating videos and illustrations into her responses. With AI, her knowledge base and language skills continue to grow, enabling her to recognise whether she is interacting with an adult, a child, or a visitor with disabilities, and to adapt her conversations accordingly.

"With Irenia, we have not only taken a major step forward in enhancing the visitor experience at the zoo, but also laid the groundwork for how artificial intelligence will positively and dynamically revolutionise education and entertainment," said Sergio Palomo, the zoo's marketing director, in a press release.

Jin Xi and Zhu Yu, both born in 2020, arrived in Madrid in April, following the renewal of an agreement for giant panda protection with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. They are set to remain in Spain for the next 10 years.

Madrid Zoo Aquarium received its first pair of giant pandas from China in 1978. - BERNAMA-XINHUA