Sony wants to assure you that the AI camera on the new Xperia phone is quite impressive.

      Sony's AI camera assistant is facing criticism, and its defense is not particularly convincing.

      Sony’s Xperia smartphones are renowned for their camera capabilities, featuring excellent lenses and sophisticated in-camera controls that enable users to take outstanding photographs.

      Therefore, when the company's official account shared before-and-after photos taken with its AI camera assistant, it left many people astonished. Not only did the company delve into questionable AI territory, but the images were also notably poor.

      Now, Sony has issued a defense of its AI Camera Assistant, which I find unconvincing.

      In response to the announcement regarding the AI Camera Assistant, Sony explained that this feature does not edit photos post-capture. Instead, it analyzes the scene, lighting, subject, distance, and background before taking the photo and then provides four different shooting options based on this analysis. Users can select their preferred choice, and the assistant will apply those settings to the images taken. It can also recommend optimal framing, adding a useful element.

      While this explanation seems reasonable in theory, the promotional samples provided by Sony told a different tale. The previous disastrous images shared by Sony remain in memory, and even in this latest clarification post, the AI-generated options do not appear significantly improved from the originals.

      Did Sony neglect its own camera legacy?

      This is particularly disheartening. Consumers gravitate towards Sony Xperia smartphones because they appreciate Sony’s color science and the comprehensive manual control the devices offer. If users wanted heavily edited images, they would likely choose brands like Apple, Google, or Samsung, which provide far more features than Sony.

      Historically, the Xperia has been the go-to phone for camera purists. That has always been part of its identity. By shifting towards AI-assisted photography that yields mediocre results, it feels as though Sony is moving away from this core identity.

      To be fair, the Xperia 1 VIII's cameras are indeed superior to those of earlier models and can produce stunning images. The hardware itself isn’t the issue. The concern lies in Sony changing its focus from emphasizing its raw camera capabilities to chasing the trend of AI, which does not benefit the phone.

      Rachit is a seasoned tech journalist with over seven years of experience covering the consumer technology landscape.

      Your Pixel phone might soon warn you when a caller is misrepresenting themselves.

      Google's latest innovation could expose scammers before you even pick up the phone.

      Google has consistently led the way in protecting Pixel users from spam calls, and it appears the company is not stopping anytime soon. A recent breakdown of the Google Phone app by Android Authority indicates that Google is developing a new feature to detect phone number spoofing.

      What is phone number spoofing?

      Apple's Siri may be late to the AI scene, but its upcoming iOS 27 update could still provide a beta experience.

      Siri has spent 15 years in beta and may remain in that state for longer.

      Apple is reportedly working on one of the most significant redesigns for Siri in years with iOS 27. However, even after several delays, the company may continue to label the upgraded assistant as a beta product. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, internal testing versions of iOS 27 currently refer to the revamped Siri as a beta experience and include an option for users to opt out of the Siri beta altogether.

      This move would feel familiar to long-time Apple users. When Siri was first introduced in 2011, it launched under a beta label before Apple quietly removed that designation in 2013. Despite that, Siri has faced ongoing criticism for lagging behind competitors in reliability, conversational skills, and overall intelligence.

      Siri’s transformation in iOS 27 could introduce an auto-delete feature for your AI conversations.

      Siri may finally forget your embarrassing AI inquiries.

      Apple’s anticipated overhaul of Siri in iOS 27 could bring a feature that many AI chatbots still consider optional: the automatic deletion of AI chat history. According to Mark Gurman's Bloomberg newsletter, Apple is preparing a redesigned Siri experience with a chatbot-style interface, but unlike competitors such as ChatGPT and Gemini, privacy controls may be integral to the experience rather than a hidden feature.

      The reported functionality would allow users to automatically delete Siri conversations after 30 days, one year, or keep them indefinitely. This approach seems similar to the auto-delete system already implemented in Apple’s Messages app.