When people ask me about smartphones, I often say that there has not been a huge amount of development in them in the last few years, especially on the camera side: Even some of the best cheap phones now take photos that are more than good enough for social media.
In many ways, we have undoubtedly hit a plateau about how much can be squeezed out of the compact camera hardware worn in phones, regardless of megapixel number. This is where artificial intelligence comes into play with developed image signal treatment to optimize and refine shots. But as smartly as AI Tech seems to get, it couldn’t really solve a DUD photo in the first place – so far it seems. Enter the new Google Pixel 10 series.
Google has already filled with AI and has equipped its latest package of pixel phones – consisting of Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold – with fresh smart features, with a catch my eye: Camera Coach.
Builds on the AI camera’s features of previous Pixel phones use CameraCoaches Google Gemini models built into the camera system to process a scene that a user tries to capture and then offer a mix of suggestions to help them find the best angle, lighting and even suggest what camera states need to get to get the best photos.
Essentially, Cameracoach is a way to help people who suck good shots on their phones to produce better photos.
Helpful ai
It may seem like a bit of crutch for people who think photography is an art that needs to be finesse, and I partly agree. But it is also a tool to help people learn how to better take photos and frame a scene.
I am a big advocate for trying to capture the best photo you can before I go down the editing route and I feel that cameraCoach can be the means to do so. I need to point out that I haven’t tried this feature yet, so I go out of Google’s information – but by helping people take the best photo to begin with, cameraCoach should avoid the need to use a whole package of generative AI editing tools to create a good photo after hit the shutter button; To me, it means less artificial finesse and fakery and more ‘real’ photography, albeit with a little help from some smart algorithms.
One could argue that there is nothing revolutionary about cameracoaches, as it is potentially just a developed roof on the guided frame features that use AI to help guide people with visual impairment taking good photos. But I feel it is a development in the right place where AI is used to help people be better rather than just replacing a skill or doing something for them.
Now, it is not to say that the Pixel 10 models are missing other AI image improvements and photo manipulation tools as there is now an automatic version of Best Take for Group Photos to find and combine similar photos into a single image where everyone looks their best. Features such as Magic Editor and Automatic AI editing are also present and correct.
Still, cameraCoach is for my eyes a promising use of AI to help the upskill and offer a fresh one (yes, Fresh-ish) Take AI use in smartphone cameras. And even though I think I’m practical enough with a camera or one of the best camera phones, I’m still eager to try it.
What are you raining? Tell me that in the comments below.
