GoKawiilis the Verge’s weekend editor. He has over 18 years of experience, including 10 years as managing editor at Engadget.
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After Sony drew some unwanted attention for a post demonstrating its AI Camera Assistant on the Xperia 1 XIII, it’s trying to clarify how the feature works. The company says it doesn’t edit photos, but makes suggestions based on lighting, depth, and subject. Point the camera at something, and it will give you four options for changing exposure, color, and background blur.
In its product video, Sony says that the AI Camera Assistant will also suggest “the most photogenic angle.” Though the clip only shows it suggesting that someone zoom in, which is not the same as suggesting a camera angle.
The examples that Sony posted on X, while better than those it posted on May 14th, are still pretty terrible. They’re not as washed out as the sandwich or as over-exposed as the portrait in the meadow. But each suggestion in the grid below has serious issues and looks worse than the original. Suggestion one is way too saturated, two is flat and over-processed, three makes it look like the food is Photoshopped into the frame, and the contrast in four is cranked way too high.
If you’re using an Xperia 1 XIII, your best bet is probably to ignore the AI Camera Assistant’s suggestions for now.