AI DinoTracker App Identifies Dinosaurs From Ancient Footprints

Scientists launched DinoTracker, an AI app that identifies dinosaurs using fossilised footprints.
The system compares footprint shapes without relying on possibly incorrect human labels.
Researchers trained the AI on 2,000 unlabelled footprint silhouettes.
The model analysed eight key shape features, including toe spread and heel position.
Tests showed the AI matched expert classifications about 90% of the time.
The team published the study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Steve Brusatte from the University of Edinburgh co-authored the research.
Gregor Hartmann from Helmholtz-Zentrum led the study.
The AI supported earlier findings that some ancient tracks look surprisingly birdlike.
Scientists remain cautious and say the tracks likely came from bird-like meat-eating dinosaurs.