Sony unveiled the Xperia 1 VIII recently by highlighting some of the least appealing images captured with a Sony camera in recent memory. These shots came from the new AI Camera Assistant feature. After testing the Xperia 1 VIII for a week, I can confirm that the AI assistant performs just as poorly as those early examples indicated.

During an initial press event for the Xperia 1 VIII, Sony demonstrated the AI Camera Assistant, and my first impression was that it resembled an upgraded take on Google's Camera Coach. That assessment proved inaccurate. Camera Coach appears on recent Pixel devices as a special mode that guides users on shot composition, inquires about the main subject, and provides pointers on framing, positioning, lens selection, and Portrait mode use. Though underwhelming in my Pixel 10A review, it functions as a straightforward photography guide.

Sony's version integrates straight into the standard camera app mode and activates on its own during shooting, though it can be disabled completely. A small preview box emerges in the viewfinder to display how the image might appear with AI-recommended adjustments. Tapping applies them, while swiping reveals up to three more choices.

AI Camera Assistant suggestions pop up inside the viewfinder, showing you realtime image adjustments.

These previews show up prior to capture and do not involve editing existing shots. In contrast to Google's tool, the Assistant skips advice on composition or focus and simply applies a filter without explanation. Users receive no details on the applied changes, limiting any educational value.

Appearance of suggestions proves inconsistent. The feature skips the front camera entirely for unclear reasons. Direct views of bright lights or backlit scenes rarely trigger options, as do empty walls. Macro shots seldom receive suggestions, though exceptions occur. Capturing a palm often yields ideas, but rotating the hand eliminates them. Any underlying logic remains unclear.

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Here is a 2.9x telephoto shot straight out of the phone camera.

Most AI suggestions adjust exposure, white balance, contrast, and similar basics, often in bold ways. Some darken images to create a dramatic mood, while others overexpose highlights. Sepia tones appear frequently, along with warmer yellow shifts. At least one option typically boosts saturation for vibrant results.

Additional effects include artificial background blur similar to portrait mode. In better cases, the system brightens the main subject against a darker backdrop. Sony states it can recommend lens swaps or optimal angles, yet none appeared during testing.

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This is probably the best set of AI options the phone ever gave me.

Similar effects show up on Instagram, where filters have existed for 16 years and now tend toward subtlety. The Xperia includes its own set of five filters with film-like and vivid options. The AI approach claims to analyze scene, subject, and light for tailored suggestions, yet results make it impractical.

Only a few AI-assisted photos seemed worth saving, even fewer for sharing, and just one or two appeared superior to the original. The tool helps more in poor lighting where defaults falter, but even then worthwhile shots remain rare.

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The lighting here was dim, so the AI suggestions mostly attempted to bring out more detail in the plant.

The phone camera itself is not the issue. The Xperia 1 VIII offers strong performance with large sensors on all rear lenses that surpass Apple and Google hardware, plus a processing style with slightly heightened contrast that I generally enjoy. This marks Sony's strongest Xperia camera to date and holds up against rivals at its roughly $1,850 price, though it skips a US launch. That baseline quality makes the AI addition more puzzling.

Placing suggestions before capture appears to affect speed. Despite the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, the device runs inconsistently and tends to overheat. The AI feature adds load, slowing app launch and causing freezes when switching lenses or capturing. The camera app crashed once during this review. Disabling the assistant reduced these problems.

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Portraits make it clearer that the AI Camera Assistant can apply different processing to different parts of an image.

Photo: Dominic Preston / The Verge

At least Sony avoids post-capture edits like object removal or scene expansion found in Apple's iOS 27. Unlike those tools from Apple, Google, and Samsung, this assistant raises no deep questions about image authenticity. It simply prompts doubts about whether Sony's team understands what makes a strong photograph.

Photography / The Verge

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Dominic Preston