How AI Revolutionized Smartphone Photography
The love story between AI and smartphone cameras is a tale older than the unveiling of generative AI (ChatGPT) to the world. AI has and continues to revolutionize the smartphone camera, evolving it from tiny “good enough” photography software tools to actual near pro-level equipment capable of competing with cameras several times their size and price.
The term ‘AI’ has been thrown around a lot by smartphone makers. They seem to use it any chance they can as a vague umbrella term. So let’s look into exactly how AI has changed smartphone photography in the past few years and how it continues to revolutionize these tiny lenses on the back of our phones.
1. AI and Computational Photography
Computational photography is the backbone and foundation of AI in smartphone cameras. In a nutshell, computational photography is the combination of digital computing processes and optical processes when taking a photo. In other words, the camera uses digital computation to capture and process images, instead of relying solely on optical processes.
Phone manufacturers started employing computational photography techniques like HDR and other software-driven enhancements as far back as the early 2010s to make up for the size limitations of mobile cameras.
At the time, it was just basic color adjustments, highlight enhancements, face beautification, filter application, etc. Small-scale image enhancements that improved picture quality.
Today, computational photography has evolved far beyond basic adjustments. It now uses AI for scene understanding, combines multiple exposures for better quality, enables precise image manipulation, enhances zoom, improves video, and even generates image content. It’s transformed smartphone photography from simple enhancements to a core part of image creation.
2. AI-Powered Night Mode: Seeing in the Dark
AI has significantly improved low-light and nighttime photography on smartphones. Phones with AI can seamlessly turn dark scenes into beautiful nightlife memories thanks to smart algorithms. The camera takes multiple photos with different exposures; it then examines the images and picks the best parts from each pixel by pixel. Ensuring that grain and noise are reduced as much as possible while also enhancing details.
On the other hand, traditional low-light photography relies on hardware (sensor, aperture, shutter speed), and demands technical skill. AI night mode, powered by computational photography, captures multiple exposures and uses AI to enhance photos, reduce noise, enhance detail, and minimize blur.
3. Object Recognition and Scene Optimization
AI-powered cameras have been trained to recognize different subjects (and objects) in any given photo. They can now recognize and understand a whole scene. Whether you’re capturing a breathtaking view from a mountaintop or a family picture with your loved ones, AI can optimize your settings for the best shot.
As soon as the AI recognizes the details of the image you’re about to capture, it goes into an “AI enhancement mode” (so to speak). The AI adjusts various camera settings to make sure you get the best image quality. For example, once the AI-powered camera recognizes you’re taking a picture containing different people with faces and different skin tones and colors, it typically starts applying settings that enhance the beauty of each person’s face and skin tone.
4. AI-Driven Pro-Level Edits
Thanks to artificial intelligence in phones, pro-level image editing that was once only for trained photographers is now easily accessible.
AI has enabled smartphones to perform real-time photo enhancements and post-processing improvements. As the photo is taken, AI gets to work fine-tuning, enhancing, and adjusting things like colors, detail, exposure, etc. After the image is captured successfully and read on your device (which usually happens instantly), AI kicks in again and begins post-processing, further improving the image quality. The reason many phones with AI don’t just process everything in real-time is to avoid a delay in showing you the image captured.
Artificial intelligence on phones has integrated pro-level editing tools into phones natively. With many AI-powered camera phones, you can easily do things like background removal, adjust portrait settings, erase objects from images, etc. All these things that used to be locked behind a Photoshop subscription, but are now accessible to all.
5. Generative AI
Generative AI exploded onto the scene in late 2022, and it has only gained more steam since then. Generative AI has changed the way we look at image editing. As you probably know already, generative AI has the ability to generate information and apply that information to just about anything. For example, in an image that originally had a clear blue sky, generative AI can generate a cloudy sky and seamlessly stitch it into the image.
Up until the release of generative AI, AI-powered cameras had been using a different subset of AI called machine learning. The main difference being that machine learning helps computers learn from data to make smart decisions (predict), while generative AI helps computers learn from data to create new things. Some of our favorite generative AI camera features are:
AI Object Eraser: Traditional object erasers used machine learning to merely predict what to fill into the erased part of an image. Generative AI, on the other hand, creates new data in the erased spot. This is why when you compare object erasers of those released before generative AI to today’s, they only seemed to patch the hole with a blurry or repetitive texture, often resulting in an unnatural or obviously edited appearance. Generative AI, however, analyzes the surrounding context and generates plausible, contextually relevant content, making the erased object disappear seamlessly. Where older tools might leave a smudge or a cloned pattern, generative AI can reconstruct complex patterns, textures, and objects effectively, “imagining” what should be there.
Generative Edit: This artificial intelligence feature allows you to move objects in a photo. You can use this feature to resize, remove, or reposition objects in a photo, and AI will generate something to fill in the gaps left.
High-Range Zoom: A slew of phone brands, like Google Pixel, have taken advantage of generative AI to enhance high-range zoom photos. This uses AI to generate whatever artificial details that it believes are there.
6. AI-Powered Video Enhancements
AI is revolutionizing smartphone video. AI stabilization analyzes frames in real-time, counteracting shake for gimbal-like smoothness, eliminating motion blur. Auto-tracking and focus adjustments keep moving subjects sharp and centered, automating focus for action shots.
Moreover, AI-driven slow-motion and cinematic effects elevate video creation. AI interpolates frames for smoother slow motion and enables bokeh and depth-of-field effects, adding a professional touch. Scene recognition allows for dynamic transitions and automated editing, making stunning videos accessible to everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which phone has an AI camera?
Many modern artificial intelligence phones feature AI-enhanced cameras. Notable examples include the Google Pixel series, Samsung Galaxy S series, and the latest iPhones. These phones with AI utilize it to improve various aspects of photography.
What is an AI-powered camera?
An AI-powered camera uses artificial intelligence to automatically enhance image quality. This can involve:
- Generative AI photo improvement capabilities, such as automatic scene recognition and optimization.
- AI image functions that improve detail, color, and dynamic range.
- Processing that understands the context of the image, and optimizes settings accordingly.
Do smartphone cameras use AI?
Yes, smartphone cameras increasingly rely on AI. AI algorithms are used for tasks like:
- Scene detection
- Image stabilization
- Portrait mode effects
- Low-light photography enhancements
Does the Google Pixel have an AI camera?
Yes, the Google Pixel phones are well-known for AI-driven camera capabilities. Google’s Pixel phones, including the Pixel 8, heavily leverage AI to enhance photo quality, and produce impressive results. The Pixel phones are some of the most well known phones with AI when concerning camera functions.
