Sony wanted to showcase the benefits of artificial intelligence in its new Xperia 1 VIII, but the move backfired. The company published official comparisons where the AI-processed version looked worse than the original. Users quickly noticed that the unprocessed images had better exposure, natural shadows, and vivid colors, while the AI-edited ones appeared washed out and overexposed.
Processing that worsens the base image 🤦
The AI Camera Assistant promises to optimize every shot, but the official examples show the opposite. In the processed photos, highlights appear blown out and tones become dull, losing the chromatic richness of the original. The algorithm seems to apply a generic filter that removes the natural contrast of shadows. Instead of enhancing, the AI penalizes the image, generating a flat result that contradicts Sony camera philosophy.
AI worse than an Instagram filter 😅
Sony sold us a smart photography assistant, and it turned out to be the clumsy cousin who adjusts brightness wildly. The comparison is reminiscent of when a friend asks for your camera and returns the photo with everything overexposed and everyone's face turned into a ghost. Good thing they at least left the originals for comparison, because otherwise, we'd think the Xperia 1 VIII comes with a pre-installed watercolor filter.