Sony AI Unveils Gran Turismo Sophy, a Breakthrough in AI

February 9, 2022 – Sony AI, together with Polyphony Digital Inc. (PDI) and Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), today announced a breakthrough in artificial intelligence (AI) called Gran Turismo SophyTM (“GT Sophy”) - the first superhuman AI agent to outrace the world’s best drivers of the highly realistic PlayStation®4 racing simulation game, Gran TurismoTM (GT) Sport. GT Sophy aims to deliver new AI-powered gaming experiences to players around the world.

[Jin_Sakai]

“the first superhuman AI agent to outrace the world’s best drivers of the highly realistic PlayStation®4 racing simulation game“

This would destroy me since I’m not the greatest racer out there to begin with. Sounds pretty awesome though!

[SullysCigar]

Lol same, I tend to use the side of the car next to me to keep me on the track in the corners.

I look forward to bouncing off Sophy. Sorry, that was shameful.

[badz149]

so...it was you all along!

[LordoftheCritics]

Drivatar 2.0

[porkChop]

Eh, not quite. I think there's a pretty big difference between the two. Though I do hope that Xbox takes the Drivatar concept to the next level this gen. They can use the machine learning chips in the Series consoles to create far more realistic AIs based on player styles and habits, and then apply that tech to more than just racing games. Imagine playing Doom or something, where the AIs get smarter over time and adapt to new tactics based on how all the players actually play the game.

[Leathersoup]

I'm not a fan of the Drivatar model. They seem to learn the worst parts of a players playstyle and bring it into the single player game. Basically you get the worst of online gaming in your single player game.

[purple101]

Mee too..

. It's not in the game at launch, will be added later it says. So we're safe from the robots for now!

[Atticus_finch]

Sounds awesome. Can't wait to race against it. Another reason why GT is ahead of the competition.

[frostypants]

They never said this would be in GT7.

[TrueViper]

Here is an article where Kazunori Yamauchi confirms a form of it is coming in a future update to GT7. https://www.gtplanet.net/gr...

[S2Killinit]

Is it or is it not? In some shape or form

[RaiderNation]

Is "Sophy" an acronym for Sony and Polyphony?

[SullysCigar]

Ooh clever! I so hope that's true.

[Gardenia]

Could have been "Pony".

[Stanjara]

Yessss!

[SDuck]

Or "phony"

[porkChop]

It could be, yeah. It would make sense.

[Eidolon]

That would be more like a portmanteau

[RaiderNation]

Not goinna lie. I had never heard of the term "portmanteau" before! LOL. Thank you for the education!

[Blashted]

Keeps getting better and better. GT7 looking like a day one purchase on PS5.

[Elda]

Good for Sony & Polyphony.

[chronoforce]

Sony have announced GT 7 has a Drivatar system. Lol.

[senis_kenis]

No Sophie AI outraced top GT drivers in a world, but you keep telling your self that, to make your self feel safe.

[chronoforce]

It sounds an awful lot like a Drivatar system which also uses a neural network to train AI agents in order provide AI that behaves more human like for players to race against. It works in GT sport so they probably have developed an agent that uses the training model provided by the network in order to drive a car's behaviour. Maybe I am reading to much into the description of Sophy as a network trained AI agent.

"GT Sophy aims to deliver new AI-powered gaming experiences to players around the world". Does this possibly hint at that ability to download different training sets like one can in Forza? Again maybe I am reading to much into.

[rpvenom]

I personally don't know what this will actually mean in game.. How vastly different can it be from the current CPU players at different difficulty settings.. I'm genuinely asking, someone please explain the differences

[Tacoboto]

This is less about gaming and more about the long-term prospects of AI/self-driving tech.
A few years ago, I remember a co-worker was in an AI course that used GTA 5's roads to teach it how to drive. The top-minds in the field are using real professional-player data and vehicles that (for the tech of the PS4) do their best to simulate real vehicles.

Sophy will continue to grow with GT7, and with Sony's desire to build EVs, "infrastructure for massive scale AI training" means so much more than gaming.

[HannibalLecter]

Something that can learn and adapt rather than run preset runs..

[Majin-vegeta]

So....we must kill it before it can get there?Gotcha *loads shotgun*

[EvertonFC]

In older GT games the ai just breaks hard before the corner unnecessary also if your slightly at the side of the cpu car approaching a corner the ai will just break and give up a position way too easily without trying to defend its position

[Imalwaysright]

Finally something that makes me say: next gen is here.

[Orchard]

But GT Sport isn’t a next gen game… Infact it’s from 2017.

[Junkrad2022]

each time GT comes out it brings something new to the table that's why its the best racing simulator out there.

[Magog]

Real machine learning in action and Kaz has said they intended to bring it to GT7 in the near future.

[Good-Smurf]

Just went to GTplanet forum on this and Samus is still as grumpy and condesceding as usual.
I won't even try to log in there I feel like I'm going to ruin the moments of these skeptics and AI experts there.
Can't even get excited about anything GT related there too much toxicity.

[rekof]

My ass,... Not the way I drive GT ,.. Carbumping FTW

[ScootaKuH]

I mean... isn't that how you're supposed to play? I try to break the habit - even being a good sport on GT sport online but the amount of times someone bumped me and I got penalised I gave up and went back to my old ways 🤣

[Ethereal]

Interesting! So basically the existing AI developed for computer-controlled racers, which likely use basic preset parameters and data from the driving course and scalable for difficulty, could be replaced with a deep-learning AI. Essentially taking an AI that was basically there to provide a field of cars to becoming an actual opponent for skilled racers. I'd imagine currently that skilled drivers make a mockery of the existing AI programming in these games to point where the only challenge would be online against other player drivers, now you can hone your skills against the best driving performance possible. Fascinating to say the least and opens up what deep learning AI can mean to traditionally controlled AI elements in games....

Can you imagine a learning AI controlling a NPC in an open world? It could be programmed to learn and assume any role. It could have criminal intentions (within the game world, like want to rob you), or simply be a humble worker that does the same routine each day which could have that completely change based on player interaction. Those NPCs would actually be living out their role rather than walking along a sidewalk when the player is near. It's a cool concept but also a little scary to think of the possibilities.

[WGAF]

Not sure how it will turns out. If they only use real professional racer data for training AI, I can see it going somewhere. If they just use everyones data, well it gonna develops alot of unrealistic, unsafe, and straight up illegal ramming habit. Though it would make games feels more like you are racing with real gamers.

[Good-Smurf]

Just watched the first top drivers vs Sophy and it was very tense at least for 7 other racers while the guy at 2nd place got left over 6 seconds behind Sophy in 1st place it wasn't even close.
Talk about landslide victory for Sophy.
Can't wait for when they do and will implement a Sophy AI in GT7.

[anast]

I'm not a racing fan but I will pick this up anyway.

[Orchard]

Pick what up? There’s nothing to buy here.

[Flawlessmic]

Uhhhh gran turismo duhhh!

[Orchard]

But it's not actually in the game... GT Sport has been out since 2017 and didn't receive any update recently (according to my console).

[Flawlessmic]

Its obviously coming to both sport and gt7 as stated.

Sounds like great advancement espc for high level players who will enjoy the smater Ai once it it out.

Not sure what ur problem is around this annoucement seems like u dont like it going of the various posts in here. Or purposely trying to downplay it.

Should things not get annouced before it comes to a game and does that mean its not coming because its not in the game yet seeing as that seems to be ur point lol

[Orchard]

@Flawlessmic I never saw an announcement that it was coming to Sport or GT7? Can you link that?

Also, I'll remain skeptical until I see it in there - most of the time these R&D project things (from all companies) have a lot of fanfare and don't arrive ultimately.

But the fact remains, there is nothing to buy here today or in the immediate future for Sophy, so my comment is accurate - I'm unsure what he's planning on picking up? GT Sport?

Also, you don't need this to convince you to go buy GT7, it'll be great with or without this. I guess I find it a bit weird that he wasn't planning on buying it but now he is because of an AI that isn't there and ultimately, if it was, would destroy him if he isn't a regular/experienced racing game player.

[anast]

The new GT 7game. Yes, this article isn't directly about that, I am aware. This logical leap shouldn't be strenuous.

[sizeofyou]

https://www.gtplanet.net/gr...

Courtesy of TrueViper ^^^^^^^^:

[EvertonFC]

Why?

[SinisterKieran]

is she hot?

[darkrider]

Very cool. Keep pushing forward. This means it will be harder to win!

[ApocalypseShadow]

Sounds cool. I think Sony is thinking beyond the game as usual like they took a videogame and made it FIA sanctioned.

What would be even more interesting is a robotic AI car racing against real drivers in NASCAR or some REAL racing circuit. Even if it was just a couple of laps. Might scare a few drivers if Sophy can out perform them in certain areas. But also scary in the fact that we'd have AI capable of beating us at real racing. Not sure if it would ever get sanctioned though. But it would definitely be news worthy.

[AuraAbjure]

Sounds super rad!

[hotnickles]

I was getting major mortal kombat 2 AI vibes until I saw the etiquette fair play rules haha. PTSD. Triggered.

“Sophy had to conform to highly refined, but imprecisely specified, sportsmanship rules including avoiding at-fault collisions and respecting opponent driving lines.”

Is this kind of stuff really that ground breaking? It sounds like it would be standard these days but I’m not an AI guy, I just play games and not much racing. Maybe it would be better explained in motion against the best players.

[FreeFallFrenzy]

Hopefully this means an end to the cheap rubber-banding crap they do on the harder races. So sick of that in racing games.

[Syphos]

Having seen the race(s) (3 in total, the human team did win on points but it was close) it's pretty impressive, the AI seems a tad aggressive at the moment but there were a lot of great/fair overtakes without any contact between AI/Player cars from both, if it will continue to learn over the course of GT7 it can adjust even more properly, it even taught some of the pro players a few different ways to tackle hard parts of tracks, sometimes using a different racing line and getting more speed on the exit etc.

It's fun to watch as well because it's so extremely close between the AI/Players, would recommend watching for anyone interested in this, it's definitely miles beyond pre-programmed paths, the only thing really is the AI needs even more learning to prevent cars bumping into each other, although there were only two instances of the AI throwing a player of the track (not even a hard bump, just a small push from the side or a corner taken a bit wide leaving no space for the player) compared to plenty of clean overtakes so it's really a minor issue, hope they implement this asap.

Exciting stuff!

[Magog]

That was one racing series. The AI came back 3 months later and destroyed the human team. There is a video for that as well.

[Syphos]

Which one are you referring too?

The one I watched was uploaded just yesterday on the official Gran Turismo TV youtube so I'd love to see that other one too for comparison.

[Magog]

Here is the video of the AI winning against human opponents.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[Syphos]

Thx for the response, il definitely check this out during dinner or something =].

[SimpleSlave]

*Milo Enters the Chat...

[0hMyGandhi]

I mean, back in my day, we used to have just good ol' "Rubber banding" that always made races in the ps1/n64 generation quite the nail-biters.

[Rhythmattic]

Remember Sony recently announced some real cars..... I imagine a lot of data from GT7 may help with them honing the AI Algo in the real world.,... Or at least a good "Test Bench" s to say.

[DaniMacYo]

I like what they are doing. I’m no match if Sohpy is at the GTC esports level I’m in trouble then lol. Hopefully we can scale her difficulty to cater for all levels whilst still keeping the AI’s race craft and skills intact.

[easternbalboa]

I heard they are going to implement the Sophy a.i into a doll

[Atomicjuicer]

"Learns" my bawls. It just averages winning drive paths.

More difficult opponents is the least valuable feature in a game to me.

Gran Turismo is soooooooooo
Borrrrrrrrrrrrring

Bring back ridge racer. That was actually entertaining.