Smartphones have become an indispensable part of most people’s lives. Be it in terms of camera, build quality, design, performance or features, all of these are packed in today’s phones. Over the last two years, artificial intelligence has also become an integral part of smartphones. Smartphone manufacturers like Apple, Huawei and Oppo are leveraging AI into their offerings, especially in the camera segment.
Here are the top five reasons where AI really is playing a role in dynamising smartphone cameras:
1. Photo Filtering
Phones with AI cameras have the ability to learn its environment. So when a photo is taken in a particular setting, it eliminates all the undesired objects in the scene. It happens gradually as the AI becomes familiar with these objects in the scene. This learning is done by the powerful GPU present in the phone.
2. Picture Enhancement
Another area where AI-camera comes into play is low light photography. Photos captured from a poorly lit or dark environment is retouched with AI algorithms that work on camera elements such as ISO and exposure. This is relatively new since optical features already work fine in phones. It is generally present in the flagship, top-end smartphones.
3. Computational Photography
Digital image processing techniques that use computer algorithms constitute computational photography and is prevalent in the latest digital devices. Computer Vision complements this process and essentially forms the tech behind most cameras today.
4. Depth Effect
One of the most astounding features found in phones today is the concept of depth effect (also called bokeh) Basically, it means the background is made blurry to provide a feeling of ‘depth’ in the photo. In 2016, Apple’s introduction of ‘Portrait Mode’ in iPhones led to the flurry of other smartphone companies follow suit to add depth effect in their cameras, which use ML algorithms to provide this effect.
5. Smoother Camera Performance
With AI, cameras get a boost in capturing a string of photos in quick succession without compromising picture quality. In fact, ML algorithms in top-end phones pave way for a buttery smooth operation in clicking photos through optimisation. Since these smartphones house powerful SoC, overall performance is not affected.
