If you’re a shutterbug or a tech junkie, you probably know all about Google Clips, a tiny AI-focussed (pun intended) camera from the all-encompassing tech giant. If you don’t, well, you probably should know about it. So, here’s a brief:

It looks something like Instagram’s icon. Most of it is just a lens and one shutter button below it and the bottom has a dock for charging and a small hole to reset the system. How is it controlled further? Why, the way everything else is, these days. There’s a companion app for it. This is a personal thought, but I think companion apps make hardware makers lazy. Everything or some of the things that can be controlled from or on the device are not there anymore, so they don’t have to be accommodated. Instead, the onus shifts to the user to download yet another app, link the device to it, set it up... you know the drill. But, I digress.

Intelligent recording

The one question that you could think of is, “Why would Google make a camera with a companion app when you can fire up your phone's camera instead?” Well, that’s where the USP comes in. Clips uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to know when and whom/what to capture. Basically, pick a spot to set it up on, so it has a vantage viewpoint, and then let your pets run loose, or share a moment with your toddler; Clips captures these moments without a prompt and processes them on the device itself (so that’s one gadget that isn’t sending your information to the cloud, and given the current hue and cry over privacy issues, this is a good thing).

It was only a matter of time before AI found its way to cameras, given how it’s dominating pretty much everything and is the next big talking point in technology. But what is interesting is despite the seemingly large strides that we seem to have taken in AI, we’ve barely scratched the surface and there’s enough and more potential for it to expand and become an intrinsic part of our personal technology. Even if one thinks they are not heavy users, their most basic of apps uses machine learning to make things easier. For example, think predictive text on your smartphone’s keyboard, or how it picks up names you frequently use when typing and autocorrects to them. Or Google Maps or Uber and Ola throwing up suggestions based on where you’ve travelled to, before.

With cameras too, AI is pretty much becoming omnipresent. AI-assisted selfies, that ‘beautify’ facial features are now available even on budget smartphones. Apart from using Siri and Google Assistant to click pictures, some phones capture selfies when you wave a hand in front of the camera. Well, all this doesn’t happen by itself. There are algorithms trawling through what the camera ‘sees’ to pick up things that trigger such actions.

Robot shutterbugs?

Obviously, this has sparked off concerns. Like using AI to identify certain kinds of people, or actions. Surveillance was never anybody’s favourite cup of tea when they are on the receiving end and add to that AI that can trigger off recording by itself and you have a potent mix threatening to go out of control.

Then again, everything is a double-edged sword. There are great benefits too, that can be harvested using something like AI-assisted cameras. Lighthouse AI, an AI start-up based in USA, recently came up with an AI security camera that can monitor places 24/7 and can ping its user if an unfamiliar face is in the vicinity, among other functions. Gadgets like these are a boon for those leaving children or senior citizens alone at home, for example.

By now, we are well-enveloped by technology to know that privacy is the trade-off to make lives simpler. And we can either choose to make our peace with it; or avoid certain aspects. Well, at least till we can afford to avoid them.

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