The incredible blandness of AI photography

AI photo editing alters memories, but lacks authenticity.

: Allison Johnson critiques AI tools for photography, focusing on Google's Magic Editor in the Pixel 9. She explores how AI can remove distractions but create generic, soulless images. Despite AI's strengths, authentic photos require good lighting and genuine moments. Johnson concludes there's no substitute for genuine memories.

Allison Johnson, with years of experience in consumer tech reviews, explores the capabilities of AI photo editing tools in enhancing or altering memories captured in photos. Using the Google Pixel 9's Magic Editor, she discovers its impressive ability to edit distractions out of images, even replacing backgrounds on command. However, Johnson realizes these tools might result in images lacking crucial details and context that initially gave character to the photos she cherished.

During her exploration with the AI tools, Johnson discovers they can remove mundane elements like diaper bag straps or people in crowded scenes, thus allowing her to focus more on the core of her memories. Despite these advantages, she grapples with the question of whether photos, heavily edited, can still genuinely reflect the reality and emotions of the moments they aim to capture.

Ultimately, Johnson acknowledges AI's abilities in enhancing photos but maintains that core elements of good photography, such as lighting and composition, remain essential. AI cannot replicate the authenticity and emotions present during the moment captured. She concludes acknowledging AI improvements while emphasizing the irreplaceable value of genuine and imperfect memories.