FutureFive New Zealand - Consumer technology news & reviews from the future
Story image
This AI-powered camera always knows when to take a picture, that’s a bit creepy
Mon, 9th Oct 2017
FYI, this story is more than a year old

Google, has been working on a new type of camera that lets users capture more special moments, while also allowing them to be in the moment.

This camera is very exciting, very cool and very creepy all at once.

Now the device was created with a noble goal in mind, which I can respect, but the fact that it knows when to take pictures without the user telling it does make me a little uncomfortable.

Google's Clips, is a lightweight, hands-free camera that helps users capture more genuine and spontaneous moments.

Users can set the camera down on the coffee table when the kids are goofing around or clip it to a chair to get a shot of their cat playing with its favourite toy.

There's also a shutter button, both on the camera and in the corresponding app, so users can capture other moments or subjects.

Google has put machine learning capabilities directly into Clips so when users turn it on, the camera looks for good moments to capture.

Clips looks for stable, clear shots of people.

Users can help the camera learn who is important.

Clips sync wirelessly and in seconds from the camera to the Google Clips app for Android or iOS.

Users Simply swipe to save or delete their clips or choose an individualto save as a high-resolution still photo.

Users can view and organise anything they've saved in Google Photos.

If they're using Google Photos, users can backup unlimited clips for free.

Google says that privacy and control really matter, so they've been thoughtful about this for Clips users.

Which does makes me a little bit relieved, though only a little bit.

The device It looks like a camera and lights up when it's on so everyone knows what Clips does and when it's capturing.

As well as this all the machine learning happens on the device itself.

Google promises that just like any point-and-shoot camera, nothing leaves the device until users decide to save it and share it.

Here's hoping the machines don't gain consciousness anytime soon.