A new patent filed by Sony Interactive Entertainment reveals that the company is considering using AI to censor audio and video based on user-provided content filtering parameters.
Sony “Automatic customized editing of video content using AI” patent details
SIE's new patent is titled “Automatic Tailor-made Editing of Video Content Using AI,” and the filing explains that the company is currently exploring ways to use AI-powered tools to tailor entertainment experiences to different users. The patent specifically cites an example of customizing audio-video (AV) content for video game content.
This type of feature would be a welcome asset for parents of young gamers, but its implementation is sure to spark serious debate about the intersection of AI and art. Gamers have recently seen comments regarding AI exploration at Larian Studios cause a lot of drama for that team. Some creators and consumers may object to AI altering finished products to aid censorship.
It would be less of a concern if the tool just provided a warning or failure when certain parameters were triggered. However, it's a different story if the tool actually allows you to make “tailor-made edits” to your video and audio content, changing or removing certain content. The patent suggests that the AI tool could work in real time, meaning it could mute a game to silence foul language or blur nudity or gruesome scenes.
The biggest difference between what this patent proposes and what modern safety settings and parental controls do is that this tool adds an additional layer of safety beyond what developers have built into their games.
The tool's ability to react to what's happening on the screen and change the situation on the fly could dramatically change the way parents think about age limits and what games they let their kids play.
The patent explains that the tool can be used with most major computer ecosystems. So if this tool goes from concept to production, it could ultimately impact not just PlayStation owners, but Nintendo, Xbox, and even PC gamers.
Please note that this is just a patent application and does not guarantee that the final product will actually see the light of day.
