Exclusive
The Burning Man at the United Nations The Burning Man at the United Nations Indian Passports, NRC Debate Put Muslims on Edge Indian Passports, NRC Debate Put Muslims on Edge What Washington’s Nuclear Gamble with Saudi Means What Washington’s Nuclear Gamble with Saudi Means
Current Affairs

Is baby hungry, sleepy or just unhappy? These Japanese apps help interpret cries

Crying without a clear reason can be a major source of anxiety for parents. As families look for new ways to navigate the uncertainty of…

By Samantha Johnson / June 12, 2026
Crying without a clear reason can be a major source of anxiety for parents. As families look for new ways to navigate the uncertainty of early childcare, Japanese developers are rolling out AI-powered tools designed to identify the possible causes of a baby’s distress.

One of them is Babylingual, a free app released in March by Moto Numazawa, a 25-year-old father in the Kanagawa prefecture city of Chigasaki, near Tokyo.

In late April, Numazawa held his smartphone up to his three-month-old son, Saku. Seconds later, the app displayed the message: “I’m hungry.”

Advertisement

Alongside the result, the screen showed a gauge indicating the likelihood of that interpretation compared with other possible needs and advised: “It might be feeding time.”

By that point, three hours had passed since Saku’s morning feeding. After being fed, he quickly fell asleep in the arms of his mother, Yu.

A Babylingual screen shows a gauge indicating the likelihood of an interpretation. Photo: Kyodo
A Babylingual screen shows a gauge indicating the likelihood of an interpretation. Photo: Kyodo

Babylingual applies previous research suggesting babies make distinct vocalisations in response to needs such as hunger and sleep, classifying cries into five patterns.

Don't Miss: