Sony’s awful ‘AI Camera Assistant’ for Xperia is the final boss of the worst camera trend [Gallery]

Sony’s new Xperia 1 VIII AI Camera Assistant is facing criticism for making photos look brighter, flatter, and less natural.

Reviewers say Sony’s sample images often look worse than the originals, with reduced contrast, detail, and color.

The backlash reflects a broader smartphone trend: AI-driven camera processing that prioritizes a polished look over realism.

The piece argues this kind of computational photography is reshaping expectations for mobile photos in ways many users dislike.