About the Talk:

*This event is IRL, with the option to tune in virtually.

This OpenAI Forum will unfold in 2 parts. We’ll begin with Gašper Beguš who will share new research on GPT o1 that changed the way we think of language and how AI interpretability helped guide a discovery in sperm whale communication at Project CETI. Sperm whales communicate using short sequences of clicks called “codas,” which have traditionally been studied by their rhythm and timing. This research shows there’s more going on: whales also produce distinct sound patterns that repeat reliably and resemble how humans use different vowel sounds.

To uncover these patterns, the research team used AI interpretability as an exploration and discovery tool. AI models helped point researchers toward subtle sound differences that appeared consistently across whales and interactions, suggesting these patterns might be meaningful rather than random noise.

Once these clues were identified, the team followed up with careful human analysis and established scientific methods to confirm the findings. The result is evidence of a richer, more structured whale communication system—and a clear example of how AI can help researchers find new questions to ask, not just answer old ones.

The finding of vowels and diphthongs in sperm whales further deepens our understanding of non-human intelligence and the next step is to decode the meaning these vowels may convey within the context of sperm whales’ complex communication.

Read the entire paper here.Great visual posted on Instagram by Project CETI hereDuring the second half of our program, we’ll welcome VP of OpenAI for Science, Kevin Weil, to the stage alongside Gašper Beguš to discuss OpenAI’s goal of compressing 25 years of scientific progress into 5 by weaving AI into scientific workflows.

About the Speakers

Gašper Beguš

Beguš leads efforts to develop techniques that help us better understand the inner workings of AI. In the Berkeley Biological and Artificial Language Lab he develops interpretable machine-learning models, including an “artificial baby” that learns speech from raw audio the way infants do.

As Linguistics Lead of Project CETI, he applies similar tools to the click sequences of sperm whales and recently showed that whales produce sound patterns analogous to human vowels.

Beguš works with industry through InterpretAI to make neural networks more transparent, and he serves as College Principal of Bowles Hall, leading UC Berkeley’s oldest residential college.

His research has been covered by The Economist, National Geographic, The New York Times, Financial Times, The Atlantic, WIRED, Quanta, Harvard Magazine, Noema Magazine, and others.

Beguš regularly appears as an invited speaker in diverse venues such as NYU Stern School of Business, Centre Pompidou, the National Science Foundation, and the Santa Fe Institute.

Kevin Weil

Kevin Weil is the VP, OpenAI for Science, previously Chief Product Officer at OpenAI, where he leads the development and application of cutting-edge AI research into products and services that empower consumers, developers, and businesses. With a wealth of experience in scaling technology products, Kevin brings a deep understanding of both consumer and enterprise needs in the AI space. Prior to joining OpenAI, he was the Head of Product at Instagram, leading consumer and monetization efforts that contributed to the platform's global expansion and success. Kevin's experience also includes a pivotal role at Twitter, where he served as Senior Vice President of Product. He played a key part in shaping the platform’s core consumer experience and advertising products, while also overseeing development for Vine and Periscope. During his tenure at Twitter, he led the creation of the company’s advertising platform and the development of Fabric, a mobile development suite. Kevin holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Physics from Harvard University, graduating summa cum laude, and an M.S. in Physics from Stanford University. He is also a dedicated advocate for environmental conservation, serving on the board of The Nature Conservancy.