● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 negative
Xiaomi 17 Ultra camera misidentifies Sun as Moon during eclipse photography
Key points
- Xiaomi 17 Ultra rendered the Sun with lunar features during an eclipse.
- The phone's AI likely applied moon-specific enhancements to the Sun.
- Smartphone cameras use AI to reconstruct details for zoomed moon photos.
- Other users reported similar issues with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra's Eclipse Photography Error
During an eclipse, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra smartphone produced an image of the Sun that displayed characteristics typically associated with the Moon, such as craters and reliefs. This occurred when the device was used to photograph the eclipse alongside other smartphones.
AI-Driven Image Processing for Celestial Objects
The error is attributed to the smartphone's artificial intelligence, which is trained on images of the Moon to enhance details like craters and reliefs when users zoom in. This AI reconstructs and embellishes lunar photos, sometimes distorting the actual visual input from the camera.
This practice is common among smartphone manufacturers, especially with devices featuring high-magnification digital zooms (up to x100 or x120), to create convincing images of the Moon.
Broader Industry Practice and Previous Incidents
Xiaomi is not unique in using such AI-driven enhancements. Samsung's "Space Zoom" mode faced similar scrutiny regarding its lunar photography capabilities. The incident with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra confirms that these AI systems can misidentify celestial bodies, applying inappropriate enhancements.
While not all eclipse photos taken with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra exhibited this issue, other users have reported similar problems, indicating a potential flaw in the device's object recognition or image processing algorithms.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
During an eclipse, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra smartphone camera applied lunar photographic enhancements to images of the Sun, resulting in an inaccurate depiction with crater-like reliefs. This incident highlights how smartphone AI-driven image processing, designed to enhance moon photos, can misinterpret celestial objects.