Sony patents a system that allows all games to be censored

That artificial intelligence was destined to revolutionize the world of gaming (and beyond) we had understood for a long time, but the new frontier of technology could have many more applications than it seems. For example, Sony has developed a system that would allow controversial content within games to be moderated, eliminating (or replacing) it according to users' wishes.

One chip to rule them all, and in the darkness censor them

Sony's patent explains the mechanism of this automatic video editing system, based on AI. There are as many as two processors dedicated to this function, which analyze audio/video outputs before they are transmitted to the user and use artificial intelligence to recognize offensive content (gore, nudity, profanity, alcohol use, etc...) and modify it. 

These modifications are carried out based on parameters that are established by the end user. It is interesting to note that the user, in some cases, can even choose whether taboo content should simply be eliminated, or replaced. In other words, one can decide whether to simply mute profanity and hide explicit things from view, or whether to insert audio/video content generated by the AI itself in their place. 

The opportunity of this solution

The system suggested by Sony could prove useful in specific situations: for example, an arachnophobe could avoid the risk of suddenly finding giant spiders on screen (and if you've played, say, Skyrim or Resident Evil Rebirth, just to give two examples, then you know that can happen…). Obviously, it could also serve to adapt content for minors. 

However, in the case of minors, the optimal solution would perhaps be to immediately give younger children games suitable for their age, instead of relying on the power of AI. Also because censorship that goes so far as to replace original assets with others created by AI cannot help but raise further questions, inherent in the integrity of the works themselves.