CapuchinAI 1.0: Development of a Machine Learning-Based Touchscreen Paradigm to Test Cognition in Wild Capuchins

Advancing the study of primate cognition requires methods that preserve ecological validity while enabling the experimental control typical of laboratory research. We introduce CapuchinAI v1.0., a field-deployable touchscreen system currently integrating real-time species recognition with automated cognitive testing, providing a novel methodology for studying cognition in wild primates. Our approach combines an adapted version of a high-performing YOLOv7-based facial recognition model (MultipleCapuchins) with a portable Raspberry Pi touchscreen-reward apparatus designed for automated operation in natural habitats. The system detects approaching capuchins, initiates video recording, presents stimuli (in our initial deployment, a blue screen that rewards all touches), and dispenses food rewards. During a 2-week presentation to two habituated groups of wild white-faced capuchins (Cebus imitator) at the Taboga Forest Reserve, 16 individuals voluntarily interacted with the apparatus, 10 triggered rewards, and 8 formed and retained robust screen-reward associations. The rapid habituation and learning rates demonstrate the feasibility of deploying AI-mediated cognitive experiments in the wild. Ongoing development of CapuchinAI aims to address several long-standing challenges in field cognition research, with the goal of enabling: (1) autonomous, individualized task administration without researcher intervention; (2) standardized, repeatable trials across individuals and sessions; (3) scalable deployment across groups and sites; and (4) parallel data collection on behavior, identity, and performance. This methodology provides a blueprint for integrating machine learning and touchscreen testing to study within- and between-individual cognitive variation under natural conditions. CapuchinAI represents a significant step toward long-term comparative research on primate cognition, bridging the gap between lab and field.