Sony Interactive Entertainment has shared its plans for bringing artificial intelligence (AI) into PlayStation game development, with company president and CEO Hideaki Nishino laying out a broad vision during a recent financial results presentation.

Nishino framed AI as a tool that serves two groups: players and game publishers. For players, he said the goal is a richer gaming experience with more immersion and new ways to enjoy familiar characters. For publishers, the focus is on making the production process more efficient and helping games reach the right audiences.

According to Nishino, PlayStation Studios teams are not just planning to use AI; they are already doing it. Developers are currently using AI tools to handle repetitive tasks, boost software engineering productivity, and speed up areas like quality assurance, 3D modeling, and animation.

One specific tool Nishino highlighted is called Mockingbird, which animates 3D facial models based on performance capture data. Animation work that previously took hours can now be done in a fraction of a second. Nishino was clear that Mockingbird is not replacing human performers, but rather changing how the data from live captures is processed.

He also pointed to a hair animation tool that takes videos of real hairstyles and outputs a 3D model complete with hundreds of individual strands, a process that used to be very time-consuming. Nishino said teams at Naughty Dog, San Diego Studio, and others have already used these tools in released titles, including Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.

Beyond production tools, Nishino also pointed to AI opening doors for new types of gameplay. He cited Gran Turismo’s AI racing agent Sophy as an example, describing it as adding a competitive challenge for even the most experienced drivers. He also mentioned that Sony’s developers have built prototypes featuring NPCs with individual personalities that can create more dynamic, living game worlds.

Nishino directly addressed a concern that has been widely discussed in the gaming community: the use of AI to generate assets and concept art. He stated that the creative vision behind PlayStation’s games will remain in the hands of human talent.

“The vision, the design, and the emotional impact of our games will always come from the talent of our studios and performers,” Nishino said. “AI is meant to augment their capabilities, not to replace them.”

Nishino said AI is also playing a role in how Sony runs its platform business. He noted that over the past few years, AI tools managing payment network routing have generated over $700 million in additional revenue for the PlayStation Store. Looking ahead, Sony plans to use machine learning to personalize the PlayStation experience at a larger scale, with AI that could recommend not just the next game a player might enjoy, but also gameplay moments, subscriptions, accessories, and merchandise.

Nishino wrapped up by saying Sony’s investments in AI and machine learning are aimed at pushing the quality of PlayStation experiences forward for both players and game creators. With a large global player base, a deep library of franchises, and an integrated ecosystem, Sony sees AI as a key part of its path forward in the gaming industry.