Sony patents AI podcasts hosted by PlayStation characters to deliver personalized gaming news

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.

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.