Adobe’s ‘natural look’ camera app embraces generative AI - The Verge

What the report says

The Verge reports that Adobe is adding generative AI features to Project Indigo, its experimental iPhone camera app that was introduced last year with an emphasis on producing a more natural, SLR-style mobile photography look. The new version 1.1 update introduces an “AI Playground” suite with tools for applying stylized effects, removing objects, getting photo feedback, and making prompt-based edits.

According to the report, Adobe is treating the rollout as an experiment. The tools are being offered free, without a sign-in requirement, to a small share of Indigo users over the next few weeks, and users can opt out to keep using the app as before. Adobe fellow Marc Levoy said in an announcement blog that the company wants to study how people use generative AI editing and may expand, extend, or eventually charge for the feature if it proves popular.

The Verge says the suite has four sections: Styles, Object Editing, Photo Guidance, and Custom Edit. Styles can transform Indigo photos with AI-generated looks, while Object Editing can erase people or distractions and fill gaps using generative AI. Photo Guidance analyzes images and suggests reshoots or edits, and Custom Edit lets users describe desired changes in more detail. Adobe is initially using Google’s Nano Banana AI model rather than its own Firefly models, though it may add or change model support later.

The update is notable because Indigo originally appealed to photography enthusiasts with manual controls and computational photography rather than overt image generation. The Verge also notes that Adobe is still working toward adding C2PA Content Credentials for AI-edited Indigo images, while Google’s model already applies its SynthID watermark.