AI-Enabled Sony Patent Predicts Button Presses Through Camera Input

Sony's latest patent hints at a revolutionary approach to reducing input latency in future gaming hardware. The patent, WO2025010132, titled "TIMED INPUT/ACTION RELEASE," utilizes AI and additional sensors to predict user inputs, thereby minimizing the delay between command and execution.

Sony's current PlayStation 5 Pro, featuring PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), already tackles upscaling. However, technologies like frame generation introduce latency, impacting responsiveness. Competitors AMD and Nvidia have addressed this with Radeon Anti-Lag and Nvidia Reflex, respectively, and Sony appears poised to enter the fray with its own innovative solution.

As detailed by Tech4gamers, the patent focuses on streamlining "the timed release of user commands." Sony acknowledges the inherent latency between user input and system processing, leading to delayed execution and potential gameplay issues.

The proposed solution integrates a machine learning AI model to anticipate user inputs. This AI is augmented by an external sensor, potentially a camera observing the controller, to detect impending button presses. The patent explicitly mentions using "camera input as an input to a machine learning (ML) model," identifying the initial user command.

Alternatively, the sensor could be integrated directly into the controller buttons themselves, possibly leveraging analog inputs—a technology Sony has historically championed. This could be a key feature in a next-generation controller.

While the patent's specifics may not directly translate into the PlayStation 6, it signifies Sony's commitment to mitigating latency without sacrificing responsiveness. This is especially crucial given the rising popularity of frame generation technologies like FSR 3 and DLSS 3, which inherently add latency.

The benefits are clear, particularly for fast-paced games requiring both high frame rates and low latency, such as twitch shooters. However, the ultimate implementation of this technology in future hardware remains uncertain.