Sony's AI Senses Future Button Press Intent

Sony's latest patent hints at a potential game-changer for future PlayStation consoles: AI-powered latency reduction. The patent, WO2025010132, focuses on predicting user inputs to minimize delays between command and execution. This is particularly relevant given the increased latency often associated with advanced graphics technologies like frame generation, which, while boosting frame rates, can negatively impact responsiveness.

Sony's current PlayStation 5 Pro utilizes PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), an upscaler capable of 4K output. However, further advancements in visual fidelity often introduce latency issues. Competitors AMD and Nvidia have already addressed this with Radeon Anti-Lag and Nvidia Reflex respectively. Sony's proposed solution leverages machine learning.

The patent details a system incorporating an AI model trained to anticipate user inputs. This prediction is aided by external sensors, potentially a camera monitoring controller button presses, or even the controller buttons themselves acting as sensors. The patent suggests utilizing camera input as input to a machine learning (ML) model to identify the initial user command. The use of analog buttons, a hallmark of Sony controllers, is also a possibility.

While the exact implementation in a future PlayStation 6 remains uncertain – patents rarely translate directly into final products – the patent clearly indicates Sony's commitment to reducing latency without sacrificing responsiveness. This is crucial given the growing popularity of frame generation technologies like FSR 3 and DLSS 3, which inherently add latency.

The benefits would be most noticeable in fast-paced games requiring both high frame rates and low latency, such as first-person shooters. Whether this technology will see the light of day in future hardware remains to be seen, but the patent signifies a significant step towards enhancing the gaming experience.