PlayStation Partners with AMD to Integrate Artificial Intelligence in Games
A Deeper Collaboration for the Future of Gaming
In a recent announcement, Sony revealed that it is furthering its partnership with AMD to develop more AI-powered technology for gaming. The two companies are working together on "Machine Learning-based technology for graphics and gameplay," as stated by Mark Cerny, lead architect of the PS5 and PS5 Pro.
A History of Partnership
The collaboration between Sony and AMD is not new. They have been partnering on the PS5 and PS5 Pro’s GPUs, which are based on AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture. The PS5 Pro also uses a feature called PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) to improve image clarity and frame rates.
Project Amethyst: A Multi-Year Collaboration
Sony has released a 37-minute presentation by Cerny discussing the technical aspects of the PS5 Pro and additional information about the multi-year project with AMD, codenamed "Amethyst." The two companies are vague about how, when, and where the tech resulting from Project Amethyst will be used, but it seems like it could be a feature on future PlayStation hardware.
Goals of Project Amethyst
According to Cerny, the two goals of Project Amethyst are:
- A More Ideal Architecture for Machine Learning: The companies aim to develop a more efficient and effective machine learning architecture that can handle lightweight convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for game graphics.
- Developing High-Quality CNNs for Graphics: They plan to create a set of high-quality CNNs for game graphics, which will be accessible to both Sony and AMD.
Increasing the Richness of Game Graphics
Cerny mentioned that these components should be key in increasing the richness of game graphics as well as enabling more extensive use of ray tracing and path tracing. The goal is to create a technology collaboration that supports broad work and machine learning across various devices, including PC and console.
Non-Exclusive Technology
Sony and AMD want this technology to be non-exclusive to PlayStation. Cerny stated, "Through this technology collaboration we’re looking to support broad work and machine learning across a variety of devices." This means the tech can be used on PCs, consoles, and even in the cloud.
Timeframe for Release
The fruits of their labor seem like they’ll take some time to materialize. Cerny mentioned that creating a console is "roughly a four year-journey," which suggests we might not see hardware using tech from Project Amethyst until the PlayStation 6.
Conclusion
Sony and AMD’s partnership with Project Amethyst aims to develop more AI-powered technology for gaming, focusing on machine learning and high-quality CNNs for graphics. The collaboration is expected to be a multi-year effort, with the potential to improve game graphics and gameplay across various devices.
Related Resources
Transcript of Mark Cerny’s Presentation on Project Amethyst
[Starts at 34:32 in the video]
Mark Cerny: I have some very exciting news to share. We have begun a deeper collaboration with AMD.
- The code name for this project is Amethyst.
- With Amethyst, we’ve started on another long journey and are combining our expertise with two goals in mind.
Two Goals of Project Amethyst
- A More Ideal Architecture for Machine Learning: We’re working towards a more ideal architecture for machine learning that can handle generalized processing of neural networks and is particularly good at lightweight CNNs needed for game graphics.
- Developing High-Quality CNNs for Graphics: We plan to develop a set of high-quality CNNs for game graphics, which will be accessible to both Sony and AMD.
Mark Cerny: These components should be key in increasing the richness of game graphics as well as enabling more extensive use of ray tracing and path tracing. We’re also working towards a democratization of machine learning something accessible that allows direct work in AI and ML by game developers, both for graphics and for gameplay.
Non-Exclusive Technology
Mark Cerny: Amethyst is not about proprietary technology for PlayStation. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. Through this technology collaboration, we’re looking to support broad work and machine learning across a variety of devices.
- This means the tech can be used on PCs, consoles, and even in the cloud.
- We’re looking forward to keeping you posted throughout what we anticipate to be a multi-year collaboration.