Sony's AI Camera Assistant Suggestions Still Look Terrible

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- Sony clarified its AI Camera Assistant for the Xperia 1 XIII doesn't edit photos but instead offers four suggestions per shot based on lighting, depth, and subject, tweaking exposure, color, and background blur
- Sony's product video claims the AI will suggest "the most photogenic angle," though the demonstration only shows it recommending the user zoom in — not an actual camera angle
- The updated examples Sony posted on X, while improved over its May 14th posts (which included a washed-out sandwich and an overexposed meadow portrait), still show serious flaws: oversaturation, flat tones, a Photoshopped-in look, and cranked contrast
- Sony originally drew "unwanted attention" for a promotional post demonstrating the feature, prompting the company to publicly clarify how the assistant actually works
- Xperia 1 XIII owners are advised to ignore the AI Camera Assistant's suggestions "for now" until the recommendation quality improves
Why it matters: Sony shipped a photography feature on the Xperia 1 XIII whose own promotional images are judged worse than the originals, meaning a tool marketed as enhancing photos could actively degrade them. The "most photogenic angle" claim also mismatches the product demo, signaling Sony is overstating the AI's capabilities relative to what it actually delivers.



