Adobe has launched extensive trials of a new technology that is changing the approach to mobile photography. Generative artificial intelligence is now being tested directly within the smartphone camera, not just during post-processing. The experiment is taking place within the Project Indigo app, where users can evaluate tools that help create perfect shots right at the moment of capture.

AI Playground Tools

At the heart of the new functionality is the AI Playground section. It offers four key directions for working with images, allowing photographers to experiment with aesthetics and composition in real-time:

  • Object Editing: The tool allows for the instant removal of unwanted details from the frame—pedestrians, cars, or road signs. It also includes a function for artificial background blurring to simulate professional shallow depth of field.
  • Styles: Allows for a radical change in the visual perception of the shot, transforming a photograph into a pen drawing, ink, or watercolor sketch.
  • Photo Tips: The AI acts as an expert critic, evaluating the success of the shot and providing specific advice on improving composition or the need for reshooting.
  • Flight of Fantasy: A mode that provides complete creative freedom through text prompts, allowing for the generation of unique visual effects.

Technological Base and Availability

To ensure the operation of the AI Playground tools, developers have integrated the third-party Google Nano Banana model. Adobe emphasizes the flexibility of the approach: in the future, the company may switch to other algorithms or combine them to solve specific tasks.

Currently, trial access to the new functionality is provided for free but has strict limitations. The feature is available to only a few percent of users and is active for a limited period—a few weeks. The app interface is already demonstrating its capabilities on devices such as the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Future of the Project

The decision regarding the future of these tools will depend on audience feedback. The Nextcam team has warned that providing these features for free on a permanent basis is impossible. If the tests are successful and popularity is high, the generative capabilities are planned to be included in the app's paid subscriptions.