Pain detection in animals is a critical challenge in veterinary medicine and animal welfare, profoundly impacting treatment outcomes, quality of life, and overall well-being. Since animals cannot verbally express their pain, accurately identifying pain states relies heavily on assessing and understanding their behaviour.
In this context, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into animal behaviour and pain research offers innovative and transformative opportunities. AI technologies can analyze and interpret subtle behavioural changes and other pain-related indicators with unparalleled precision, potentially surpassing human capabilities. By enabling objective evaluation of individual pain states and tailoring treatment strategies, AI has the potential to revolutionize the management of animal health and welfare. However, the road to achieving these advancements is not without challenges.

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This workshop brings together a wide range of experts from veterinary medicine, animal behaviour, welfare, and pain research, and computer science. The primary aim is to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and build a deeper mutual understanding of the diverse perspectives, approaches, and insights on animal behaviour, pain, and AI. By bridging disciplines, the workshop seeks to shape the future of pain detection and treatment in animals. The workshop maintains a focus on horses but is not limited to them, featuring presentations, discussions, insights, and solutions that are relevant and potentially applicable to a wide range of other species.