Sony AI Patent Predicts Future Button Presses

Sony's New AI-Powered Latency Reduction Technology: A Patent Deep Dive

A recently filed Sony patent reveals a potential game-changer for future gaming hardware: an AI-driven system designed to minimize input latency. This innovative approach utilizes machine learning and additional sensors to predict player inputs, thereby streamlining command execution and enhancing responsiveness.

Sony's current PlayStation 5 Pro features the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaler. However, advanced graphics technologies like frame generation often introduce noticeable latency, impacting the perceived responsiveness of gameplay. Competitors AMD and Nvidia have addressed this with Radeon Anti-Lag and Nvidia Reflex, respectively, and now Sony appears poised to enter the fray with its own solution.

The patent, WO2025010132, titled "TIMED INPUT/ACTION RELEASE," focuses on optimizing the "timed release of user commands." Sony acknowledges the inherent latency between player input and system processing, leading to delayed execution and potential in-game issues.

The proposed solution involves a multifaceted approach:

• Predictive AI Model: A machine-learning AI model anticipates the player's next input.
• External Sensor Integration: An external sensor, such as a camera focused on the controller, provides real-time input data to the AI model. The patent explicitly mentions using "camera input as an input to a machine learning (ML) model." Alternatively, the sensor could be integrated directly into the controller buttons themselves, potentially leveraging analog button technology.

While the patent's specifics might not directly translate to the PlayStation 6, it strongly indicates Sony's commitment to exploring cutting-edge technologies to mitigate latency without compromising responsiveness. This is particularly relevant given the increasing popularity of frame generation techniques like FSR 3 and DLSS 3, which often introduce additional latency.

The benefits of this technology would be most pronounced in fast-paced games, such as competitive shooters, where high frame rates and low latency are paramount. However, the ultimate implementation of this patent in future hardware remains uncertain.