This Chinese Startup Says Its AI Collar Can Help Dogs And Cats Talk To Humans

Talking to pets is something almost every pet owner has tried at some point. Some use baby voices while others are fully convinced their dog already understands every word. But actually understanding what your pet is trying to say back? That still feels impossible. Or at least it did until now. A Chinese startup called Meng Xiaoyi claims it may have found a way to bridge that gap using artificial intelligence. The company has introduced an AI-powered pet collar that it says can translate animal sounds and behaviour into human language. Yes, apparently, your cat may finally be able to tell you it is angry about the empty food bowl.An AI Collar That Claims To Translate PetsMeng Xiaoyi recently showcased the device in a YouTube demo featuring cats

and dogs wearing the smart collar. In one clip, a cat meows while staring upward and the attached device translates it into the phrase: “I wanna play.”In another moment, a barking dog is interpreted as saying: “I’m hungry.” The Chinese startup claims the collar can recognise vocal tones, body movement and behavioural patterns with an accuracy rate close to 95 percent. However, it is important to note that these numbers currently come from the company itself, and there has been no independent third-party verification so far.How The Device Supposedly WorksAccording to Meng Xiaoyi, the collar uses microphones, motion sensors and artificial intelligence to analyse pet sounds and physical behaviour. The system reportedly runs on Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen AI model, which the company says was trained using millions of pet vocal samples. The wearable itself weighs around 27 grams and connects wirelessly to a separate handheld device carried by the owner. The startup claims the system can identify more than 20 emotions and behavioural states.Interestingly, the company says communication works both ways. Instead of owners trying random sounds to calm their pets, users could theoretically speak commands like: “Easy, stay calm,” and the collar would convert that into pet-friendly sounds or signals.

Internet Users Are Not Fully ConvincedAs expected, social media reactions have been a mix of curiosity, jokes and scepticism. One X user questioned the company’s accuracy claims, writing: “I love how they claim 95% accuracy and people don't question it as if there's a certified board of pets that speak English and confirmed the accuracy.”Pronto Could Be Using Your Home Data To Train AI And That’s ConcerningOthers found the idea unnecessary altogether. “Don’t need a collar for Archie to tell me what he wants. Love and food. Mostly food,” another user joked.According to Meng Xiaoyi, the AI collar has already crossed 10,000 preorders ahead of its May 30 release. The device is priced at 799 yuan, which roughly converts to Rs 11,000.