Mark my words: Apple will regret saying this about photography

Apple recently made a statement about photography that, while I happen to agree with it and commend it, I think the company is going to regret making very soon – possibly by the time the iPhone 17 rolls around.

The crux of the statement is this: Apple doesn’t believe in the kind of generative AI seen in photos taken by phones like the Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S24. Which is why the iPhone 16 is free from fake group shots and other such embellishments.

“The iPhone 16 Pro is one of the most unfinished products Apple has ever shipped. Almost all of its highlight features will arrive in future software updates that will stretch well into next year before they’re here. That’s big stuff, like the new Apple Intelligence AI features the company says will start slowly arriving in October, and little stuff, like the complete functionality of the new Camera Control button on the side.”

Apple spectacularly failed to have its AI tools ready in time for the launch. Heck, it didn’t even have the Camera Control button properly ready. And those would have been the headline features of the 16. Instead, though, Apple had to shift its PR position and double down on no-frills photography. The iPhone takes “real” photographs of things that “really happened” – but only because its own AI wasn’t ready in time.