Speciesism in AI could hinder animal welfare reforms and the shift to plant-based diet

Governments around the world have so far failed to create a regulatory framework that would limit the potential risks of AI systems to society. Although the AI Act of the European Union – which is expected to come into full force in 2026 – aims to limit AI systems based on their potential risks to society, the framework system doesn’t provide specific protection for animals. As Sam Tucker, executive director of Open Paws and CEO of VEG3 has explained to Food Ingredients First: animals aren’t able to lobby for their own interests, so it is up to us humans to take them into account in legislation.

According to Mimi Bekhechi, campaign adviser of PETA Netherlands, research has found that the language used to describe animals can influence how we see and treat them. “AI language systems absorb our human-centric biases, so using terms that downplay cruelty to animals or carry long-held negative perceptions of certain species perpetuates speciesism, which increases the likelihood that AI tools will do the same”, she told Food Ingredients First. There is an inherent risk of bias in AI systems, as they depend on the data and algorithms used to “train” them.

In spite of the inherent bias and lack of regulation, AI systems have also brought positive results in terms of animal welfare standards and more sustainable food systems. PETA’s expert sees the age of animal testing coming to an end, in part owing to the mind-blowing innovations that AI is helping to develop. A good example of this is organ-on-a-chip technology, which can predict human drug responses more accurately than animal experiments by mimicking the structure and function of human organs. Sam Tucker says there is huge potential in AI systems for improving animal welfare standards. //