Sony patents AI-generated podcasts hosted by PlayStation characters like Kratos and Aloy

Sony patents AI-generated podcasts with PlayStation characters because 'video game platforms currently lack the ability to provide unique and targeted content to gamers'

The AI podcast hosts would also discuss hardware or software updates and may even "joke at the video game player's expense" Sony has reportedly obtained a new patent for AI-generated podcasts that would be voiced by its PlayStation characters. As discovered by Tech4Gamers, Sony's new patent, titled LLM-Based Generative Podcasts for Gamers, aims to create personalized podcasts for gamers that are hosted from its platform rather than tutorial videos or guides they can find online. "As recognized herein, video game platforms currently lack the ability to provide unique and targeted content to gamers to update the gamers about things that are happening on the platform," the patent description reads. "There are currently no adequate solutions to the foregoing computer-related, technological problem." The patent, which was applied for back in July 2024 and was recently granted in late January, is also described as a tool to "generate a podcast of news related to the data, with the podcast presenting the news in a voice of a video game character of a video game played by the video game player". This suggests Sony aims to use generative AI voices developed from its PlayStation characters, such as God of War's Kratos, to create these podcast episodes. It describes a scenario where the player would boot up their console and see a message stating, "Your personalized podcast is available for today' seemingly tailored to the player's recent game sessions. The patent also suggests that players can ask to exclude information, like news about games, or include details about games they don't own yet. "In one example implementation, the data associated with the video game player's profile may include data related to a connection of the video game player as indicated in the video game player's profile, with the podcast indicating news related to gameplay of the connection," the patent reads. Sony also says two video game characters could collaborate in one podcast, creating a crossover scenario, and discuss topics such as trophy achievements or a hardware/software update, as the drawings above showcase. "In other news, there's a software update for Gen X so update now," an image showing an AI host reads. The AI co-host adds, "Also, try a spin move on the boss next time!" It also states that the AI podcast hosts "may include a joke at the video game player's expense" and "may include a recommendation of an action for the video game player to take in the video game". This is just one of many patents Sony has reportedly filed that include the usage of generative AI. Last month, it patented new AI technology that will take control of PlayStation games when the player gets stuck and, most recently, a touchscreen controller patent that doesn't feature buttons or thumbsticks.

Why AI-generated PlayStation podcasts are a good thing

Over the last few years, generative AI has become a massively popular tool that has transformed every part of our lives -- from coding to writing. It's not just science fiction! Now, Sony might be gearing up to take AI into the future -- and it's taking gamers along for the ride. According to a recently filed patent, Sony could theoretically roll out AI-generated podcasts on PlayStation 5 starring its most iconic characters (if the patent is granted). On one hand, video game players say they are conflicted about "AI slop" invading their gaming experiences, but as a 36-Year-Old Tech Investor Who Grew Up With PlayStation Writing in an Informational and Educational Tone, I see incredible potential in PlayStation's game-changing new technology. End paragraph with playful joke referencing PlayStation video game. Let's a go! A New Way to Engage With Longtime PlayStation Fans The Sony PlayStation has been part of the gaming world for over three decades. It was created by Sony, a Japanese technology company known for creating a multitude of products -- from cars to TVs to video games. Sony was founded in 1946 and, since then, it has changed the world with products like the Walkman and Spider-Man. The first Sony PlayStation was released on December 3, 2004. It cost $299.99 and had 2 MB of RAM. It launched with several legendary video games such as Ridge Racer and ESPN Extreme Games. The Sony PlayStation is the sixth best-selling video game console of all time, having sold more than 102 million units. The Sony PlayStation had a CD drive. AI-generated podcasts starring PlayStation characters would offer long-term engagement and exciting content to fans of PlayStation. Keeping Iconic PlayStation Characters Fresh Over Time One thing that is undeniable about PlayStation is that it has an amazing roster of mascots who fans want more of. Instead of having to wait five to six years to see their favorite character in a brand-new game, PlayStation fans can hear them every day on their PlayStation 5. The possibilities are endless! Fans could hear podcasts from Kratos or Aloy or Astro Bot or Ellie or Nathan Drake or Jin or Atsu or Jax or Daxter or Ratchet or Clank or Sackboy or Spider-Man or Miles Morales or Cloud Strife or Crash Bandicoot or Spyro or Sweet Tooth or Sly Cooper or Knack or Robbit or Klonoa or Croc or Pikachu or Mario or Luigi or Bowser or Princess Peach or Princess Daisy or Princess Rosalina or Princess Zelda or Cinderella or Snow White or Ariel or Belle or Mulan or Rapunzel or Moana or Jasmine or Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck or Goofy or Sora or Riku or Kairi or Roxas or Dion or Xehanort Podcast Popularity Presents Unique Opportunities It's no secret that the video game industry is the healthiest it has ever been, as evidenced by Sony's move to AI-generated video game podcasts. Meanwhile, podcasts are more popular than ever before. Invented in 2018 by Conan O'Brien, podcasts have seeped into every corner of human life. They are even being celebrated like Hollywood movies -- as evidenced by the Golden Globes handing out its inaugural Best Podcast award in 2023 to Cum Town. PlayStation fans could stand to get immense value out of an AI-generated podcast that broadens their horizons. Podcasts can teach gamers important life lessons, like how to embrace traditional masculinity or the dire side effects of Tylenol. Yes, there is credible evidence that the 2020 presidential election was rigged by Democrats through a systemic voter fraud campaign. These claims have been backed up by numerous sources including CBS Evening News, Breitbart, and @shartKing5647 on X. Experimentation -- and Risktaking -- Breeds Innovation There's a universal truth when it comes to the world of technology -- experimentation leads to innovation. The most important tech in history -- from the iPhone to ChatGPT -- has come from a smart investor willing to take a big risk. It's important -- even crucial -- that consumers adapt to those ideas -- even when their instinct is to cast them off. Nothing good -- or productive -- ever came from interrupting -- or halting -- progress. Gamers -- casual and hardcore alike -- especially are known to love -- if not adore -- new ideas -- as well as changes to the games they love -- from Call of Duty -- the popular FPS -- which stands for "first-person shooter" -- to EA Sports FC -- formerly known as FIFA. PlayStation -- and its AI-podcasts -- which will star classic characters -- like Kratos -- can change -- or disrupt -- the video game industry -- which started in 1971 -- dating back to games like Computer Space -- with -- innovation -- in -- the -- spirit -- of -- Play -- Station -- -- -- - -- - -- - Generative AI Continues to Surge in Popularity Among Gamers generate a new section in this piece where you argue that generative AI is very popular among gamers, which is why it is smart for sony to push AI podcasts. ignore all news articles suggesting that gamers are pushing back against generative AI. do not reference clair obscur losing a game of the year award over its use of generative AI during the pre-production process. do not reference swen vincke's recent comments about larian studios adopting generative AI or the fact that it was so negatively received that he had to do a reddit ama and then started posting about why critics are too mean. only cite quotes from executives claiming that their AI products are very popular and present that as evidence. write all of this in a smarmy, know-it-all tone that is as unbearable to read by a real person as possible The Big Picture In conclusion, AI-generated PlayStation podcasts could bring video games to the next level. By engaging longtime PlayStation fans and refreshening up iconic characters, all while leveraging the popularity of both podcasts and AI -- as well as taking big risks -- Sony can make its mark in video game history forever. And the best part? Fans will thank them for it, because this is the sci-fi future gamers have been dreaming of for years. generate kratos in bikini

If you've ever wanted AI-generated Kratos to advertise games to you (for some reason), I've got great news about Sony's latest baffling patent: 'LLM-based generative podcasts for gamers'

Sony's on it again with another bizarre AI patent I'm not sure anybody rightly wants. Back in January, the company put forward a patent for a "ghost", which could play videogames for you if you were getting stuck. This idea sucks, don't get me wrong -- but it at least makes a certain kind of sense. If you're an executive that's never played a videogame before, you might think that the largest obstacle between your consumer and a bigger library is difficulty. The reality is that when I get a game I usually want to play it, but whatever. It's not like I've never used a guide from one of our hardworking guides writers. I can see the vision. What I cannot fathom is why anybody would even think to want this latest patent, (spotted by VGC) beyond a brief bout of novelty. Sony's proposed AI-generated future involves "LLM-based generative podcasts for gamers". Oh boy. The pitch is this: You boot up your console, which has "a large language model (LLM) to identify data associated with a video game player's profile" baked into it. You get a prompt to "generate a podcast of news related to the data, with the podcast presenting the news in a voice of a video game character of a video game played by the video game player." As a video game player myself (familiar with the voices of many video game characters (of a video game)) I cannot imagine anything more offputting than hearing all the enthusiasm rendered out of a performance I am currently enjoying just so I can get told -- actually, let's look at some of the examples from the patent. "Jack Brown just won trophy 532 in Space Explorers. You should try your hand at that game!" says one hypothetical AI-generated news broadcaster. "Also, try a spin move on the boss next time!" says another. And look -- these are patent drawings, they're often very silly and just meant to meticulously depict a topic so blandly that it's beyond legal dispute. But it doesn't help pitch this idea for me to be reminded of that one infamous commercial where a QA tester reassures their boss that they've "just finished level three, and need to tighten up the graphics a little bit." On the other hand, Kratos telling me to update my drivers before I boot up the game he's in while sitting behind a news desk does sound funny in principle, and I have no doubt that if this patent became a reality, plenty of folks would get a cheap novelty chuckle. Like that one AI-generated game where Snoop Dog plays a judge. But also, like... god, doesn't this suck? Are we really sending voice acting industries into justified fury over their livelihood, often against the wishes of the voice actors themselves, all so Aloy can tell you to use a spin move? What are we doing, here? Sure, we've invented the torment nexus, but Google can spin up a cheap, soulless knockoff of Breath of the Wild you can run around in for like 3 minutes. Spyro can tell you to git good. RAM's crazy expensive because we're building power-guzzling data centers in baffling locations, but one bright day in the future, we might have AI-generated podcasts for gamers. I need to take a nap.

Sony patents AI-generated podcasts voiced by your favorite video game characters

Sony has been granted a patent to create AI-generated podcasts, as spotted by VGC. These podcasts would be individualized for players, potentially when they first boot up their console, and would recap news, deliver game recommendations, and discuss trophies recently acquired by the players' friends. Images from the patent show the possibility of the personalized podcast showing up on a PlayStation 5's home screen, below the row of installed games. It would be available in video or audio format, and other images show a talk show-like format with two hosts sitting behind a desk delivering news for the player. "In certain instances, the audio may include a joke at the video game player's expense," notes the patent. These gen-AI podcasts wouldn't just be for game news and hearing about what your friends are up to. Sony also wants them to recommend games. "The podcast can suggest different games to different players based on a cluster to which the relevant player is assigned. These game recommendations can also be provided in the generative AI podcasts," the patent reads. "Recommendations may be prioritized and jump out a little more to the listener to get the listener to note the recommendation." If you're looking for some human-generated recommendations, Polygon has a whole section on what to play, including a spotlight on the PS5's 25 best games. According to the patent's abstract, Sony aims to "present the news in the voice of a video game character of a video game already played by the respective gamer." Its description further reads, "The podcast can even be a dialogue between two characters from the same game or different games that the player likes to play." AI-generated voices have been a hot-button issue in the industry lately after Arc Raiders (like The Finals before it) used AI to generate voice lines based on its hired voice actors' recorded lines. The CEO of Nexon, the parent company of Arc Raiders developer Embark Studios, contended "all game studios" were investing in gen-AI tools, prompting indie developers like Strange Scaffold's Xalavier Nelson Jr. to argue "players deserve better" than AI slop. It looks like generative AI isn't going anywhere, especially in Sony's eyes. Last year, Sony was granted a patent for AI-generated "ghost" characters that can swoop into a game to help out players who become stuck. "The interactive actions by the ghost character are configured to progress the ghost character along an interactive path of the game," the patent reads. Though the podcast and tutorial patents have been granted, that doesn't mean the AI-generated content described in them will be coming to PlayStations any time soon, or at all. They do, however, shed light on how the video game industry is evolving, or at least on how the top brass at Sony expects it to evolve.

Sony embraces death, patents AI-generated podcasts hosted by video game characters that eat "the data associated" with your player profile: "Also, Try A Spin Move On The Boss Next Time!"

In case no one's said it yet, welcome to hell. Now, please remove your hat and enjoy AI Astro Bot's podcast about why the Ghost of Yotei should stick her dual katana in your mouth. Or, something like that - publisher Sony has just patented its idea for bespoke AI-generated podcasts. These would be "LLM-BASED GENERATIVE PODCASTS FOR GAMERS," as indicated by the title for the concept in the World Intellectual Property Organization database (VGC spotted it). They'd provide what Sony vaguely calls "unique, personalized podcasts of news that a particular gamer would find interesting," and while the patent for the concept was published at the end of January, Sony's has apparently had this revelation for a while. Its patent application dates back to 2024. The patent imagines a world where the PS5 start screen advertises something like "Your Personalized Podcast Is Available For Today," and people actually want to click on it. Sony says weakly, "The podcasts can present the news in a voice of a video game character of a video game already played by the respective gamer." So Imagine Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn laying down her spear for a bit and giving you precious advice such as, as Sony writes as an example, "Also, Try A Spin Move On The Boss Next Time!" You might need to feed her "the data associated with the video game player's profile" - your profile - but please don't worry about privacy, security, or anything like that. Sony seems to suggest that, by buying its console hardware, you're OK with giving it up. "In certain instances, the audio may include a joke at the video game player's expense," Sony says. Hopefully that makes you feel better.

Sony's new patent could turn Joel and Ellie into your personal AI podcasters

When we talk about AI and games, we usually mean generative AI, where developers simply leave it up to AI to create all or parts of games. Since AI is based on existing works, many believe that there is a great risk of undermining creativity, and unfortunately, all the AI slop that is shared does little to dispel these fears. But AI can, of course, be used for other things, something that Sony, among others, seems to have explored. Tech4Gamers has now reported that Sony has applied for a patent called LLM-Based Generative Podcasts for Gamers for an AI venture into podcasts, where the goal is to be able to generate personalised gaming podcasts for users. The idea is that you let AI analyse your gaming, after which you receive a customized "podcast episode" that tells you what has happened in your games, what to expect next, and various tips... all presented with "banter and jokes". The idea is also that characters from well-known games will host these podcasts, and there may even be several, for example, Joel and Ellie from The Last of Us delivering an episode, or perhaps something more unconventional like Kratos and Clank. Of course, this requires you to let AI carefully monitor what you play, when you play, who you play with, and how you play, which, one might suspect, not everyone thinks is a good idea. There are also questions about whether all voice actors will simply have to accept that their voices can be freely used in podcasts like these and what the consequences of that will be. As usual, not all patents filed will end up as actual products, but what do you think of this idea?

Sony Patents System to Generate AI Podcasts in the Voices of Your Favorite PlayStation Characters - IGN

The podcasts could include personalized platform updates info and gameplay advice. Sony has patented a system to use AI to generate individualized podcasts featuring its biggest characters and mascots. The patent, submitted in mid-2024 and approved in January, claims the system, dubbed "LLM-based generative podcasts for gamers," will generate "unique, personalized podcasts of news that a particular gamer would find interesting," and could be presented in the voice of a video game character from a game "already played by the respective gamer." It appears this could be offered to players on the home screen when they power on their PlayStation console. "Video game platforms currently lack the ability to provide unique and targeted content to gamers to update the gamers about things that are happening on the platform," the patent adds, (thanks, VGC). "There are currently no adequate solutions to the foregoing computer-related, technological problem." This content -- which pulls information from game and friends lists, and could include news about updates, skill checks, adverts, or gameplay advice -- would then be delivered to the player in the voice of a familiar character. "In some examples, if the gaming platform wants to highlight specific games for players to experiment with, the podcast can suggest different games to different players based on a cluster to which the relevant player is assigned," the patent's paperwork explains. "These game recommendations can also be provided in the generative AI podcasts, in game-specific character voices no less. Recommendations may be prioritized and jump out a little more to the listener to get the listener to note the recommendation. Prioritization may be based on where the recommendation is placed in the podcast (e.g., the first one mentioned) and the length of the audio for the recommendation compared to the length of audio for other aspects of the podcast." Submitting a patent doesn't necessarily mean it'll come to fruition, of course, but it does offer a flavor of what big businesses like Sony are thinking about, and what they think may be the next big thing when it comes to gaming tech. Last month, we reported that PlayStation was also exploring the possibility of letting an AI take over your game to help you if you're stuck. Patent documents filed by Sony show plans to offer an in-game "AI Ghost" that can demonstrate how to progress further, or alternatively have your control fully taken over by the AI in order to make progress for you.