Smartphone Cameras Rapidly Evolve from Blurry to Brilliant as AI and Social Media Drive Innovation
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Smartphone cameras have evolved rapidly, from early devices with less than 1MP in the early 2000s to current phones with 200MP sensors. AI and ML have been key enablers.
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The modern smartphone era began in 2008 with the launch of Apple's App Store, allowing easy customization of phone capabilities. This drove innovation in camera apps and photography.
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Front-facing cameras introduced in 2010 enabled the selfie and fueled the rise of social media as we know it today.
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In 2017, smartphones like the Pixel 2 and iPhone X introduced dedicated neural engine chips and AI-powered computational photography. This marked the start of AI/ML transforming smartphone cameras.
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Future smartphone cameras will leverage AI for better photos and videos, easier use, and potentially new applications like VR/AR and 3D capture. Generative AI so far is mostly separate from the camera itself.