AI is changing camera technology for the better but photography for the worse

Generative AI may have hit the creative industry like a freight train over the past couple of years, but there’s no doubting the positive impact AI has had on photography technology. It’s changed the way we capture, organize, and edit our photos, but I fear it could change the way we view photography for the worse.

First, I want to address the elephant in the room. Generative AI is directly threatening photography, but the impact won’t be as big as you might think. I think commercial photography and portrait photography will be more challenging, because as generative AI improves, it will provide businesses with a cost-effective alternative to expensive on-location shoots, studio time, or images to advertise their latest clothing or fill their websites and social media.

But here’s the thing, AI can’t generate a real photo. You need a light-gathering device to expose a sensitive surface to create an image. And the vast majority of photography is about capturing a moment in time. Until AI robots start walking around with cameras, traditional photography will pretty much reign supreme. How are you going to document a wedding or a photo-worthy event?

How is artificial intelligence impacting photography for the better?

Memory-powered technology is being used to enhance both cameras and photo-editing software. Deep-learning AI can train autofocus systems to recognize specific subjects, so a camera can tell the difference between a human face, a dog’s face, and a car, for example. Likewise, AI can be used to control variables like exposure and white balance, depending on the scene being photographed. And the best phones use computational photography to make intelligent improvements like cropping, sharpening, and noise reduction, on the spot, as the photo is taken.

The best photo editors have also embraced AI. Apps like Skylum Luminar Neo feature a suite of proxies, giving photographers the ability to identify and replace a dark sky. While Adobe has—somewhat controversially—embraced Generation AI tools powered by Adobe’s Sensei AI. Heck, Adobe Lightroom Classic Plugin, Neuropix, can learn your personal editing style and basically predict the edits you’ll make at up to 1,000 images per minute. And that’s before you consider the improved photo organization thanks to facial recognition and automatic geotagging.

But perhaps the biggest impact AI has had on photo editing is in noise reduction software (which reduces the subtle grain experienced at high ISOs). This has revolutionized low-light photography, redefining the boundaries of what is and isn’t a usable image when it comes to noise. There’s an argument, then, that we’ve reached – or are about to reach – optimal AI saturation in the photography industry. It’s changed the process of taking a photo for the better, without encroaching too much on the creative process.

That may be about to change…

Why do I think AI has changed photography for the worse?

The old adage, “The camera never lies,” has been around for decades. From early darkroom photo manipulation to hoaxes like the 1934 “surgeon’s photo” of the Loch Ness monster to the rise of digital image manipulation, society has long been skeptical of the authenticity of photographs. But in a time when a simple text prompt can generate a convincing image in seconds, we risk becoming more suspicious of photography than ever before. And in the midst of a misinformation crisis, that’s not good news.

As AI-generated images become the norm, I suspect they will perpetuate unrealistic expectations when it comes to what a photographer can achieve. This has already proven to be a problem, thanks to the rise of social media. Wedding photographers are particularly vulnerable, with elite weddings and staged shoots helping to set expectations sky high. Suffice to say, photographs from a $200,000 wedding in Santorini aren’t going to look the same as those taken at your local golf resort. AI will only push expectations, with realistic images that a photographer might not even be able to capture.

AI-generated images will also license photography, even further. Photographers are already done for, despite the high cost of professional photography equipment and the hours spent editing after the fact. There are many reasons why images are becoming less valuable in society, but arguably the biggest reason is the proliferation of smartphones.

Smartphones—filled with computational photography—have made it possible for anyone to take a semi-perfect shot. This has led businesses and individuals to question why they should pay a professional photographer or videographer. You need look no further than social media to see that many brands and outlets are opting for “lo-fi” content over professional content. And while stock library giants have already been accused of negatively impacting photographers’ livelihoods, AI-generated images are sure to land the final blow as potential clients turn to cheaper (or free) AI-generated images.

Which brings me to the final reason why I think AI has changed photography for the worse. Creative hiring isn’t just about delivering the final product, it’s also about accessing their unique creative perspective. We’ve all seen the AI ​​ads flooding the web asking for the sunken valley to 100. As it stands, these images can’t hold a candle to what a skilled human can muster. Part of the problem is that AI can’t cultivate a unique style. Think Henri Cartier-Bresson, Annie Leibovitz, Beyond Photography, Andy Warhol, and Stanley Kubrick. These are all early adopters defined by their unique styles.

The truth is, there’s a difference between a unique artistic vision and someone going online and pushing an AI-generated image. We’ll see photographers and artists alike embrace the powers of AI and create incredible works of art that we couldn’t even imagine. But the human element is key. Ultimately, I always come to the same conclusion, when it comes to the relationship between AI and photography or the broader creative industry.

AI should not be seen as a replacement for human creativity, but rather as a tool that enhances it. The photography industry has – so far – gotten this right. I just hope everyone shares the same sentiment.

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