Smartphone cameras and AI technology can produce beautiful results. Many of them can intelligently boost colors in an image, blur out a background to mimic larger optics, or even change how you look. The question is: how far is too far with smartphones and AI manipulation of images?
Smartphones have one key limitation: the sensor. The smaller sensor and smaller optics currently have upper limits on the kind of images it can produce. To overcome these limitations, manufacturers have been using software and AI technology. In a lot of cases, this does seem to close the gap enough that it doesn't seem to matter for most people.
For example, most camera manufacturers offer portrait mode, which blurs out the background to help separate the subject. It's unlikely that anyone will find this particular feature offensive in how software is being used to manipulate an image. However, algorithms and AI software don't stop there.
A recent video from Marques Brownlee discusses some of the more potentially questionable things smartphones can do to an image. Xiaomi is an example of a phone manufacturer that's potentially crossing the line. With features that can change the way you look, one could argue that it negatively impacts beauty standards and perceptions.
Of course, we're still at the early stages with AI. As the technology improves, public pressure may cause manufacturers to act more responsibly or even remove certain features from their devices altogether. Despite all of this, it's an interesting time considering the kind of progress we've experienced with smartphones.
He has some interesting points - like the system (I won't even call it just "the camera") substituting a stock image of a well photographed moon, of matching phase, for the one you're actually looking at. Or picking the "best" expression for everyone in a photo. I don't like these things but they're undoubtedly the future.
And this processing won't all be happening "in the phone", which is why traditional cameras will only fall further behind. I wrote a blog post on this:
https://jimhphoto.com/index.php/2021/10/25/as-good-as-a-phone/
If OM System is smart, they'll chase that rabbit as hard as they can, to differentiate themselves in the market.
Good blog post, Jim.