Sony is defending its AI Camera Assistant feature on the Xperia 1 XIII after initial demonstrations drew criticism. The company clarifies that the feature doesn't directly edit photos. Instead, it analyzes lighting, depth, and subject matter to offer suggestions. When users point the camera at a scene, the AI provides four options for adjusting exposure, color, and background blur. Sony's product video also claims the feature will suggest "the most photogenic angle," though demonstrations only showed zoom recommendations rather than actual angle adjustments. The examples Sony shared on X on May 16, 2026, showed marginal improvement over earlier samples from May 14th. However, Verge weekend editor Terrence O'Brien notes that all four AI-generated suggestions still had significant problems. The first option was excessively saturated, the second appeared flat and over-processed, the third made food look artificially inserted into the frame, and the fourth had contrast levels set far too high. Each suggestion actually made the original photos look worse rather than improving them. With 18 years of tech journalism experience including a decade as managing editor at Engadget, O'Brien's assessment is straightforward: owners of the Xperia 1 XIII should likely disregard the AI Camera Assistant's recommendations for the time being. The feature appears to struggle with basic photo enhancement, suggesting that Sony may need substantial software refinement before the tool delivers meaningful value to users.