Since Sony announced the return of Aibo in 2016, the company has intensified its efforts to innovate AI technology across its products. To spearhead these initiatives, Sony has established Sony AI, with offices in Japan, Europe, and the United States. This division aims to leverage Sony's unique technical assets for world-class fundamental research and development.
Sony AI's primary focus areas include gaming, imaging and sensing, and gastronomy. In the realm of gastronomy, a concept video released last year showcased "robot gastronomomy," which envisions autonomous technology cooking meals at home or in restaurants. Hiroaki Kitano, the global head of Sony AI, previously led a cooking robot project in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, generating excitement about potential developments in this field.
The application of advanced AI is already evident in products like the A6600 camera, where it significantly enhances autofocus capabilities. Moreover, the potential for machine learning and AI in gaming is vast, offering improvements in cloud gaming and creating more intelligent enemy characters.