CapuchinAI uses facial recognition and touchscreens to test wild monkeys

In short: Researchers described CapuchinAI, a portable touchscreen station that uses facial recognition to run cognitive tests with wild capuchin monkeys in Costa Rica.

What happened

CapuchinAI v1.0 is a rugged, moveable testing station designed for white-faced capuchin monkeys living in the wild. It combines a 15-inch touchscreen, a webcam, a small computer (a Raspberry Pi, like a low-power mini PC), and an automated food dispenser that delivers small treats.

The key feature is real-time facial recognition, which means the system tries to recognize an individual monkey by its face while the monkey is standing in front of the camera. The researchers report their model, trained on images and video of wild capuchins, can identify individuals with over 97% precision and recall in tests on images, video, and live footage.

When a monkey approaches, the station identifies it and pulls up that monkey’s “bookmark,” basically a saved spot in a series of tasks. Then it shows the next task at the right difficulty, without a researcher needing to set it up each time.

The tasks are simple touchscreen games that measure things like learning, self-control, and the ability to switch rules. For example, monkeys might learn that touching the screen leads to a reward, or they might have to tap green squares while ignoring red ones.

Why it matters

This system is meant to bring lab-style psychology tests into the forest, instead of bringing animals into a lab. If it works over long periods, scientists could compare how different monkeys think and learn, and then connect those differences to real life outcomes like foraging success or social rank. The researchers say the device is non-invasive, since monkeys choose to participate and no trapping or sedation is needed, but it is not intended to run without nearby human supervision.

Source: NYTimes