A gray wolf moves through the snowy terrain of Yellowstone National Park. Image credit: PBS
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January 14, 2026
Can AI help scientists understand wolf communication in Yellowstone? New tech brings insights—and raises fresh questions about privacy in national parks.
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Note: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
In movies and literature, a wolf’s haunting howl can signify danger or untamed nature. In real life, researchers in Yellowstone National Park are analyzing those howls with cutting-edge AI technology to better monitor and track wolves. Matt Standal of PBS Montana reports.
View the transcript of the story.
Do you think AI recording technology should be used to protect wolves in Yellowstone if it means potentially violating park goers' privacy rights? Explain.
Media literacy: What additional questions do you have concerning AI and privacy concerns? How could you find out more about the subject of AI ethics?
AI & Society activity: Choose another News Hour story about AI below to watch with a peer, family member or neighbor. What skills do you think the people who created the AI technology possess? What questions about privacy do you have after watching the story? Do you think the public should be made aware of when they are interacting with AI or in an environment that is using AI, which might inadvertently listen to their conversations (there are no such federal regulations currently in place)? Why or why not?
Join the team from the AI Educator Brain, which includes AFT’s Share My Lesson director Kelly Booz; New York City Public Schools teacher Sari Beth Rosenberg and EdBrAIn, our AI teammate (yes, it named and designed itself!). In this community, we will dissect the pros and cons of AI tools in education. Our mission: to determine how AI can support teaching and learning, and when it might be best to stick with tried-and-true methods.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
