Sony’s AI system Gran Turismo Sophy outraces some of the world’s best e-sports drivers

Sony AI Inc.’s artificial intelligence system dubbed Gran Turismo Sophy defeated world-class Japanese players of the Gran Turismo Sport car racing game.

Some of the Japanese players had won world championships.

Gran Turismo Sophy acquired driving abilities like how to use acceleration and braking effectively and how to react when the road ahead is blocked by a rival, thanks to deep reinforcement learning, an approach adopted by Sony AI Inc.

According to one player, Gran Turismo Sophy used innovative ways to race its cars faster, and he could tell at a glance that its moves made perfect sense.

Technologies behind complex racing maneuvers could be applied to autonomous driving on public roads, an area that the company is expected to focus on through an electric car initiative set up this spring.

Drones and robots designed to work alongside humans may also benefit from this know-how.

Players from all around the world can compete online in Gran Turismo Sport, a popular PlayStation 4 simulation game.

The online gaming platform offers accurate representations of racing vehicles, high-resolution pictures, and realistic driving experiences. It has been certified in motorsports organized by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

However, AI's strategic decision-making capabilities still have room for improvement.

According to the research team, Gran Turismo Sophy occasionally deviated from the racing line straight after passing an opponent along a linear stretch of road.