By Stuart Kerr, Technology Correspondent
📅 Published: July 7, 2025 | Last Updated: July 7, 2025
📧 liveaiwire.com | 🐦 @liveaiwire
When Pets Meet Algorithms
Smart speakers, robotic vacuums, and driverless cars have brought AI into our homes—but one of its most personal applications might be right at our feet. Today’s AI-powered pet wearables claim to monitor health, analyse emotion, and even voice what our dogs or cats might be “feeling.” But can algorithms really interpret a bark or a wag?
Smart Collars That Know More Than We Do
A University College Birmingham study titled Smart Paws: AI‑Powered Pet Wearables used machine learning on collar sensor data to track dogs’ rest habits, anxiety levels, and daily routines, achieving accurate behavioural insights over a six-month trial (ResearchGate).
Further developments are reaching market readiness. PetPace 2.0, a vet-grade AI collar, uses continuous monitoring of vital signs to detect early signs of illness. The rollout of this device was detailed in DVM360’s coverage of advanced health-monitoring collars (DVM360), while another study looked at collars alerting dogs to environmental changes before earthquakes struck (DVM360: Smart collar earthquake project).
From Metrics to Meaning: AI Decodes Animal Emotion
While PetPace captures physiological data, other collars interpret behavioural patterns. A peer-reviewed article in DVM360 comparing smart pet monitors including Voyce and PetPace emphasised their ability to track rest, activity, and stress signals through AI interpretation (DVM360: Monitor comparison).
Research in arXiv even demonstrated how heart rate and oxygen sensors, coupled with machine learning, can detect early distress in dogs—creating new welfare applications (arXiv).
Welfare, Ethics, and Ownership
AI-powered pet tech isn’t limited to living rooms; wearable tech like GPS trackers and health monitors are increasingly used in veterinary clinics and livestock research. An in-depth feature in PetVet Magazine highlighted how real-time AI tools are improving veterinary diagnoses and care—although it urged that data governance and animal consent must remain top priorities (PetVet Magazine).
Questions also arise around pet data ownership and surveillance ethics. A thoughtful article titled Paws + Pixels: Implementing Ethical AI in Veterinary Care discusses how veterinarians and developers must balance data utility, privacy, and emotional wellbeing for animals and owners alike (Veterinary Jobs Marketplace).
The Bond Between Tech and Tail
Technology can transform understanding—but it can’t supersede empathy. In Peru, a smart collar designed to detect subtle changes in dogs’ behaviour ahead of earthquakes showed promise—but only when used in community-centred programmes that respect local needs and beliefs (DVM360 report on earthquake collar).
That balance between innovation and intention reflects themes from our earlier coverage, such as The Automation Divide, where technology supplements but doesn’t replace human skill.
What Pet Owners Should Ask
As AI-enhanced pet tech gains popularity, prospective buyers should consider:
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Validity: Is the device backed by scientific research or trials, such as Smart Paws or PetPace 2.0?
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Transparency: What data does the device collect, and who controls it?
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Welfare: Is the design suitable and comfortable for everyday animal wear?
Vetting products against academic studies and professional coverage—like PetVet Magazine or DVM360—can help ensure you choose secure, effective, and ethical solutions.
About the Author
Stuart Kerr is LiveAIWire’s Technology Correspondent. You can follow his work at 👉 liveaiwire.com/p/to-liveaiwire-where-artificial.html or reach out via 🐦 @liveaiwire or 📧 liveaiwire.com.
Internal References
External Sources
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ResearchGate – Smart Paws: AI‑Powered Pet Wearables (researchgate.net)
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DVM360 – Vet‑grade AI smart collar (PetPace 2.0) (dvm360.com)
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DVM360 – Smart collar warns dogs of impending earthquakes (Peru) (dvm360.com)
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DVM360 – Smart pet monitor comparison chart (dvm360.com)
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arXiv – Dog heart rate and SpO₂ distress detection (arxiv.org)
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PetVet Magazine – Wearable Technology in Veterinary Research (digital.petvetmagazine.com)
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Veterinary Jobs Marketplace – Paws + Pixels: Ethical AI in Veterinary Care (veterinaryjobsmarketplace.com)
