Sony wants you to know the new Xperia phone’s AI camera is not that bad

Sony defended the Xperia 1 VIII’s AI Camera Assistant after backlash over weak sample images.

The company says the feature analyzes a scene before shooting and suggests four settings, rather than editing photos afterward.

But the shared examples still looked unimpressive, fueling criticism that Xperia is drifting from its camera-first identity.

The reaction raises doubts about whether Sony’s AI pitch will reassure photography-focused users or weaken Xperia’s appeal.