“IrenIA”: Madrid Zoo Introduces AI as a Virtual Animal Keeper
Photos: Courtesy of Parques Reunidos
(eap) Visitors to the giant panda enclosure at Zoo Aquarium Madrid can now have conversations with the virtual animal keeper “IrenIA” (IA: Inteligencia Artificial). IrenIA can be seen on a tactile screen and knows how to answer numerous questions about giant pandas. In addition, the AI-supported figure is able to provide general park information, e.g. about the zoo restaurants or the nearest toilet facilities, and also uses video presentations and infographics.
Through interaction with visitors, the AI model is continuously fed with new data so that the quality of the answers and information is constantly optimized. In future, IrenIA, which is currently essentially based on Microsoft’s large language model (LLM) “Copilot”, will also be used at other animal facilities at the zoo and include even more functions. The zoo and its operator Parques Reunidos are also currently conducting trials with other LLMs in order to achieve optimum results in AI-supported visitor communication for the leisure facility, according to the group. IrenIA can currently conduct dialogs in Spanish and English, but will soon support many other languages.
With this prototype, Parques Reunidos and Zoo Aquarium Madrid are exploring the versatile possibilities of state-of-the-art technologies to optimize operations and the overall visitor experience. There are many fields of application for artificial intelligence, also in the leisure industry. Find out more in our related topic series, focusing on fields of application such as AI in creative design and swimming pool safety (EAP 3/2024) or AI in attractions and their development (EAP 5/2024). ■
