On February 21st, gamers around the world will have the opportunity to race against Sony AI’s GT Sophy, a highly competitive artificial intelligence system, when it is included in the rev1.29 update for Gran Turismo 7 on PlayStation 5. The event is a limited-time opportunity and will be available until the end of March.
Players will be able to participate in the “Gran Turismo Sophy Race Together” mode, which includes four separate GT Sophy AI opponents, each with a slightly different car specification, in a four-circuit series with varying degrees of difficulty. Initially, players will have access to a more powerful vehicle that is faster than their competition. As players progress through the levels, the performance gap will narrow, culminating in a one-on-one race against the highly skilled GT Sophy using identical vehicles.
Sony AI’s COO, Michael Spranger, clarified that the technology does not alter the AI system in any way, and players will face the exact same Sophy that is currently dominating professional racers. The company expects to receive feedback from the event and use it to improve the technology in the future.
Director of Sony AI, Peter Wurman, believes that the technology will enhance player experiences across various game types and see the potential for related AI systems to expand their role. He also mentioned that AI could play a significant role in content creation itself, especially in the detailed capture of race tracks.
To participate in the event, players must reach Collector Level 6 before the update arrives. The event is a new game design and a test run for Sony AI, and the company will be gathering feedback to improve future iterations of the technology.
