What happens when your dog uses the internet | Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas

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4.1 • 11.9K Ratings

🗓️ 3 July 2025

⏱️ 19 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Imagine this: you walk into a room, and your dog is on a video call with their fellow canine friends. Computer scientist Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas thinks the notion of a social internet for animals is not far off. She explores what happens when animals control their own technology — from parrots making friends online to monkeys choosing their favorite audio tracks — and shows how this technology transforms our understanding of animal consciousness.

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0:00.0	You're listening to TED Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas to spark your curiosity every day.
0:12.0	I'm your host, Elise Hugh.
0:13.7	I never thought I'd see the day where I walk into the room and see my one-year-old golden retriever Oscar video chatting with a friend who's also a golden retriever.
0:25.2	It might make some people laugh, but for computer scientist Ilyena Herskege Douglas,
0:31.2	the notion of a social internet for animals isn't far off and is one she's actively exploring. In her talk, she shares why
0:39.5	giving animals access to technology can make their lives better and why animals are more socially
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	...

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