Earth Species Project
Technology, Information and InternetCalifornia, United States11-50 Employees
Earth Species Project (ESP) is a Berkeley, California-based non-profit research lab and impact organization focused on applying artificial intelligence to deepen understanding of animal communication and to decode non-human languages. The organization aims to broaden human perception of the natural world by enabling learning from other species, and to influence how humans relate to the rest of nature. ESP operates within the technology, information and internet sector, conducting foundational research and collaborations that advance bioacoustics and related analyses; it engages with partners and funders to pursue large-scale, interdisciplinary work. The group is positioned as a research and impact body rather than a traditional commercial enterprise, with a mission-driven focus on expanding avenues for cross-species communication understanding. Recent developments include partnerships and leadership changes, such as a collaboration with Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the appointment of a new chief executive in 2026. ESP has previously introduced initiatives in the bioacoustics field, such as NatureLM-audio, a large audio-language model tailored for bioacoustics research, and has pursued collaborations to explore public sentiment on AI-assisted animal communication.