‘There is no real picture:’ Samsung EVP defends Galaxy S24’s AI photo-editing

Samsung says "there is no real picture, full stop" as it defends new Galaxy S24 Generative Edit AI photo feature.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra offers a range of AI photo editing features. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)

At this year’s Unpacked event, Samsung unveiled its newest AI-powered camera editing capability that will debut on the forthcoming Galaxy S24 lineup. The Generative Edit feature allows users to artificially edit, reconstruct, and remaster parts of images, aiming to achieve photographic perfection seamlessly within the smartphone’s native camera app. However, this announcement has reignited concerns around the authenticity and ethics of AI-manipulated photography.

While image editing is not a new concept, Samsung’s implementation through generative AI raises eyebrows due to its sophisticated editing capabilities and integrated nature within the smartphone experience. The seeming realism of these AI-generated edits worries some critics.

In a TechRadar interview, Samsung EVP Patrick Chomet addressed these concerns head-on, contending that the very notion of a “real” photo is illusory in the modern age: “There was a very nice video by Marques Brownlee last year on the moon picture. Everyone was like, ‘Is it fake? Is it not fake?’ There was a debate around what constitutes a real picture. And actually, there is no such thing as a real picture. As soon as you have sensors to capture something, you reproduce [what you’re seeing], and it doesn’t mean anything. There is no real picture. You can try to define a real picture by saying, ‘I took that picture’, but if you used AI to optimise the zoom, the autofocus, the scene – is it real? Or is it all filters?”

“There is no real picture, full stop,” he concluded.

Also read | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review: Artificial intelligence that changes the real experience

Chomet also suggested that Samsung aims to provide two distinct experiences – a way to “capture the moment” in a way that’s as accurate and complete as possible and to alter it to create a “new reality.” To capture the moment, Samsung leverages AI filtering, modifications, and optimisations to erase shadows and reflections.

While some photographers might balk at his dismissal of photo realness, Chomet raises a compelling point about photography’s inherent artificiality in the computational era. Nevertheless, he acknowledged AI technology requires government regulation, stating Samsung intends to collaborate with authorities.

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