Sony has launched a new AI-powered service that creates personalized audio tours for cities around the world. The system uses artificial intelligence to build custom walking routes based on a user’s interests, location, and available time. It then delivers a narrated guide through a smartphone app, offering stories, history, and local insights along the way.
(Sony’s AI Curates Personalized Audio Tours for Cities)
The AI analyzes data from maps, cultural databases, and real-time inputs to shape each tour. Users can choose themes like food, architecture, or music. They can also set how long they want the walk to last. The service adjusts the route and content instantly if someone changes direction or stops longer at a spot.
This technology builds on Sony’s work in audio and spatial sensing. It combines voice synthesis with location tracking to make the experience feel natural and engaging. The narration adapts to surroundings, so users hear relevant details as they move through neighborhoods or landmarks.
Early tests took place in Tokyo, London, and New York. Participants said the tours felt more personal than standard guided apps. Many liked that the AI skipped generic facts and focused on what mattered to them. Sony plans to add more cities soon and include support for multiple languages.
(Sony’s AI Curates Personalized Audio Tours for Cities)
The service is part of Sony’s broader push into experiential tech. It aims to connect people with places in a deeper way without needing pre-recorded scripts or fixed schedules. The company says the system learns from each use, improving suggestions over time. Users do not need special hardware—just a phone and headphones.