Playstation and the NPU

There is a type of processor that works in very much the same way as the human brain, called the NPU or Neural Processing Unit. The NPU is made up of countless numbers of nerve cells and synapses that transmit and receive signals to and from each other simultaneously, just like the human brain.

It can be utilised to accelerate the execution of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms.

Sony is rumoured to have been developing NPUs for some time. And recent unsustantiated rumours of an upcoming PS5 Pro suggested this could contain an NPU.

However I've been reading that an NPU is far more likely to be a part of the next PS6.

Even just a couple of years ago we had hardly even really seen much practical application of AI in the real world. Most Sci-fi that reality. This has suddenly exploded as the next big thing. Is it just the latest fad? Will it fade like so many must have new things? And what could the inclusion of an NPU mean for gaming?

Imagine a racing game where the NPU can be utilised for the NPC drivers to actually learn and improve? Would this make the game better? Or the more you played it the better the AI controlled drivers get so your familiarity with the game and the traditional nature that "the more you play the further you get" could be prevented by your opponents also getting better. I can't see that being enjoyable unless you want to play a game where you want to be challenged by realistic opponents that play like real people with skills that match your own. But that's not for the majority, only the competitive. It could however be used a different way to make the way computer controlled drivers race feel more realistic in how they take a corner, overtake or handle traffic.

What else could you see an NPU being utilised for in a game?

It could be interesting in an RPG as we could finally see an end to limited script choices for NPCs where you end up going through a loop cycle of the same conversations until you trigger an event to move it on. This might finally create the ability to have a more realistic conversation that always progresses.

Or another is path finding. So often in games we see NPCs stuggle to maneuver around the environment without getting stuck on something or walking into a wall. And also NPC teammates who are nothing but bots you have to constantly be feeding commands to for them to actually be useful.