Building on Frans de Waal's legacy, Emory researchers led by Marcela Benítez and Federico Sánchez Vargas developed an AI system to study wild capuchin monkeys in Costa Rica's Taboga Forest Reserve. The project combines facial recognition technology with cognitive testing, enabling automated data collection on individual primates' behaviors and social interactions. Using low-cost materials and open-source software, the team created a field-deployable system that identifies capuchins with 97% accuracy and triggers cognitive tests through touchscreen interactions.

This innovation bridges lab-controlled experiments and natural environment observations, allowing researchers to quantify cognitive traits while maintaining ecological validity. The system's open-source components aim to facilitate similar studies across primate species, advancing understanding of cognitive evolution in natural settings.