camera intelligence Cara has announced an “AI-native” Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera that attaches directly to the iPhone via MagSafe. Kaira is the first interchangeable lens mirrorless camera to incorporate Google’s next-gen generative AI model.nano banana“Enabling photographers to perform advanced generative image editing in real-time.
Camera Intelligence changed its name from Alice Camera last month, and announced This is the core of AI-based imaging technology.
Alice Camera was announced in 2020Promises AI-based computational photography features in a camera that connects directly to a smartphone. However, funding and development took time and Alice Camera could not reach customers till last yearBy then, the imaging, smartphone, and especially AI landscape had changed dramatically, prompting Vishal Kumar, CEO of Alice Camera, to pivot.
“Producing engaging, high-quality content is a necessity for solo creators and small businesses – but they are already stretched thin and juggling multiple business demands. Content creation tools are fragmented, and first-time users producing social media content struggle with steep learning curves for both mirrorless camera operations and editing software,” Kumar said last month.
Camera Intelligence’s new Cara camera makes some of the same promises that the Alice camera made five years ago, including its general design. Furthermore, the fact that Cara works with an attached smartphone and emphasizes artificial intelligence and computational photography is familiar. However, AI has come a long way since 2020, and Google’s “nano making” model can accomplish things that people could hardly have dreamed of at the time.
Smartphone cameras have become more reliant on artificial intelligence in recent years, particularly for computational photography features designed to overcome the limitations of relatively small image sensors and lenses. However, the Cara, which has a relatively large Micro Four Thirds sensor and accepts MFT interchangeable lenses, aims to take AI much further than simply improving image quality. Kaira is productiveIt can use AI to alter a photo as soon as it is taken.
Camera Intelligence says, “With the integration of Google’s ‘Nano Banana’ model, Cara ushers in a new era of on-camera ‘generative editing’, moving beyond simple capture to offer instant creation and editing for spectacular real-time adjustments that were previously only possible through complex post-production software and workflows on laptops.”
Photographers can use simple natural language prompts with the Cara smartphone app to instantly change the style of their photos, perform color grading, turn a day photo into a night photo, change a subject’s clothing or hairstyle, change the sky, and much more.
Whether or not this is something most photographers want is debatable, but Camera Intelligence believes Cara enables a new type of content creation among audiences who may have little or no experience taking high-quality photos with a traditional camera.
Vishal Kumar, CEO of Camera Intelligence, says, “With Kaira, we’re not just launching a new camera; we’re introducing a new, intelligent creative partner.”
“Creators need more than just great image quality – they need speed, flexibility, and tools that match the speed of their imagination. By integrating Nano Banana directly into Cara, we’re dismantling the traditional content creation workflow; we aim to fundamentally shift how creators capture, edit, and share our world.”
Camera Intelligence acknowledges that generative AI deals with ethical implications. The company says it is building Kaira with an “ethics-first approach.” In this case, that means the team is working with professional photographers to “establish responsible use cases.” The team is also developing security measures regarding its generative AI and prompts. The camera will “always follow Google’s Generative AI Prohibited Use Policy” and thus, will not allow users to change a person’s skin color, ethnicity, or key facial features. Camera Intelligence says it’s focused on empowering creative expression, not manipulating someone’s identity.
“We put a lot of thought into this technology before offering it to our clients,” says Kumar. “Despite the skepticism surrounding generative AI, we believe photographers shouldn’t be afraid of it.”
“Its thoughtful integration has the potential to be really helpful. We chose Google’s Nano Banana because it’s the best model we’ve seen for consistently maintaining character detail and seamlessly blending new edits while preserving the optical quality of the original image. Its one-shot editing capability is also exceptional, often producing perfect results in a single attempt without unwanted hallucinations. It really does feel like magic,” the CEO said. Concluded.
Camera Intelligence says Cara is built for creators and businesses who need high-level image quality, wide creative freedom, and an accessible, streamlined imaging tool.
This is a bold camera with many ambitious promises. Cara’s reliance on generic AI will undoubtedly ruffle some photographers’ feathers, but it’s far from the first imaging product to feature generic AI technology. Many photo editing applications rely on generative AI for their latest features, and most new smartphones have increasingly integrated generative AI in recent years. However, a full-fledged interchangeable lens camera with built-in generative AI? He is very different.
Sample Images – Before and After Generative Editing
The images below show input and output examples captured using pre-production Cara hardware and software and edited using Google’s “Nano Banana” generative AI.
Availability
Like the Alice Camera, Kaira will launch first on Kickstarter. The campaign is set to launch on October 30, and those interested in staying updated with the project or supporting it at the end of the month can do so. Sign up for notifications On Camera Intelligence’s website.
Customers can also secure the lowest possible price – $695 $50 depositThe Cara will retail for $995 when it arrives in January 2026; However, early backers will be able to purchase the camera for $795.
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Image Credit: camera intelligence
