AI-powered Sony Patent Predicts User's Next Button Press

Sony's latest patent hints at a potential game-changer for future PlayStation consoles: AI-powered latency reduction. The patent, WO2025010132, focuses on "timed release of user commands," aiming to minimize the delay between player input and in-game response.

Sony's current PlayStation 5 Pro, featuring PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), already tackles upscaling. However, newer technologies like frame generation introduce latency, impacting responsiveness. Competitors AMD and Nvidia have addressed this with Radeon Anti-Lag and Nvidia Reflex, respectively. Sony's patent suggests a unique approach.

The proposed solution involves a machine learning AI model predicting upcoming player inputs. This prediction is aided by an external sensor, potentially a camera observing controller movements, to anticipate button presses. The patent details using "camera input as an input to a machine learning (ML) model," identifying the intended command.

Alternatively, the sensor could be integrated into the controller itself, possibly utilizing advanced analog button technology. While not guaranteed for PlayStation 6 implementation, the patent demonstrates Sony's commitment to mitigating latency without sacrificing responsiveness. This is particularly relevant given the rise of frame generation technologies like FSR 3 and DLSS 3, which often increase latency.

The benefits would be most apparent in fast-paced games requiring high frame rates and low latency, such as twitch shooters. However, the practical application of this patent in future hardware remains uncertain.