Smartphone photography reached new heights when Apple introduced its iPhone. The device, while small, offered exceptional features, which gradually trickled down to Android devices. From the 2MP sensor in the first iPhone to the newly multi-lense iPhone 15, Apple has left an indelible mark on photography. However, with Korean and Chinese counterparts bringing in the age of AI photo tools, Apple’s evolution now stands at an intersection where they follow the crowd or risk losing billions. With the latest beta testing of iOS 15.1, one wonders if Apple has forgotten what made its legacy in photography. Perhaps, with the new innovations, Apple joins the fray of tech companies that are challenging the ethics and accuracy of the medium.
iOS 18.1 And the Era of AI Photo Clean-Up
Last week, MacRumors revealed that Apple tested the beta of its latest upgrade, iOS 18.1. This update adds a new Clean Up feature to enhance Apple Intelligence. With Google now offering a variety of features for AI photos with the new Pixel 9, including a Magic Eraser, Apple does not wish to be left behind. The report notes that the Clean Up tool helps you remove “unwanted” objects, with the current iteration being a hit or a miss for users.
Since the feature has not yet been launched, MacRumors notes that the Clean Up tool works best on “clear, uncluttered” backgrounds. Furthermore, the smaller an object, the better. The tool, when used, can automatically highlight the objects/elements that can be removed. The report notes that the image cleans up well if AI detects “unwanted” objects and cleans them, as opposed to one manually cleaning it using a circle or scribble on the pictures. The feature does not work on Live Photos or videos but can be used on screenshots, images in your drive, and old iPhone photographs. Fortunately, Apple added a metadata note when the AI tool was used. Moreover, it is also reversible.
The Veracity of Image-Making
Apple iPhones have always been a photographer’s essential tool in their career. Many leading photographers trade their Leicas for iPhones in certain situations, and that says a lot about their trust in their devices. For instance, Apple pioneered features such as Portrait Mode, which has various light styles, Night Mode, Smart HDR, and Deep Fusion showcase. While photographers may not utilize this always, having such options meant they had something to rely on. While machine learning has always been a part of smartphone photography, these features never changed the perception of reality. But now, with AI photo tools like Clean Up, people will continue to question the truthfulness of the medium.
To elaborate, Photoshop always allowed people to manipulate images, but it was often left to the domain of art or concept photographers. Similarly, editing to change the contrast or colors is not the same as entirely removing a person from a photograph. Furthermore, apps like Photoshop have been around, but the democratization was never as extensive as getting such tools in the palm of your hands. With AI photo tools becoming so prevalent, photography has to fight the battle to prove itself at every turn. For instance, those who casually make images without thinking of ethics and authenticity will gain more popularity with AI. They can alter a scene to the best of their aesthetic value and share it on social media to please their egos. Following this, when encountering a good image, one will simply question whether it was altered with AI or if the image is authentically good. Boris Eldagsen’s image is the epitome of this.
We are not trying to be cynical here but rather remind you that ease of access means a tool can be used for amusement or with malicious intentions. Google’s Reimagine is an example of that. Many journalists tested the feature that would bring in a new age of visual arts. However, the alterations are so clean that one can never determine the difference between real and fiction. As a publication that values photography, we also serve as gatekeepers. If the demarcation is not pronounced more often between AI photos and real images, then we will be welcoming an era of confusion and mistrust.