Smartphones have long since ceased to be just call devices, becoming full-fledged cameras that can compete with professional technology. One of the key elements that takes mobile photography to the next level is artificial intelligence (AI). Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, released in 2019, technology AI-The camera was implemented especially successfully, which made the model popular among lovers of high-quality pictures without unnecessary hassle.
But what exactly is behind this acronym in the menu of your Redmi Note 8 camera? How AI affects photos, and can it be turned off if it interferes? In this article, we will go through all aspects of how artificial intelligence works in a smartphone camera, from basic principles to hidden features that many users do not even know about, you will learn what shooting modes use AI, how to customize them to your needs, and why it is sometimes better to do without smart processing.
What is AI in a smartphone camera and how does it work in Redmi Note 8
The AI in the camera is not a separate physical module, but a software algorithm that analyzes the scene in front of the lens and automatically adjusts the shooting parameters. In the Redmi Note 8, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset is responsible for this, paired with Xiaomi's proprietary image processing processor. AI works in real time, evaluating:
- 🌄 Lighting – brightness, contrast, presence of shadows or overlights;
- 👥 Objects of shooting – faces, animals, plants, sky, text;
- 🎨 Color gamut - the predominant shades and their saturation;
- 📏 Composition – location of objects in the frame (rule of thirds, symmetry).
Based on this analysis, AI adjusts white balance, exposure, sharpness, and even uses stylistic filters that mimic professional camera photography. For example, if you take a picture of a sunset, the algorithm will automatically amplify warm tones and add contrast to the clouds. And when you take a portrait, AI will smooth the skin, illuminate the eyes and blur the background (the bokeh effect).
It's important to understand that the AI in Redmi Note 8 is not just a "steroid autocrat," it learns from millions of photos to recognize specific scenes, for example, the algorithm distinguishes food from flowers, and the pet cat from wildlife, and applies unique settings for each case.
What camera modes in Redmi Note 8 use AI
In Redmi Note 8, artificial intelligence is integrated into almost all major shooting modes.
| Camera mode | How AI Improves Pictures | When to turn off |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Blurrs the background, improves the skin, illuminates the eyes, corrects the shape of the face | When shooting in poor light (AI may be too aggressive in smoothing out details) |
| Night mode. | Reduces noise, restores details in shadows, balances colors in low light | If you need to preserve the natural graininess (for example, for the film effect) |
| HDR | Keeps details in lights and shadows, prevents sky overlight or loss of details in faces | When shooting moving objects (may appear "ghost" effect) |
| Scene recognition | Automatically selects the optimal settings for 27+ scene types (food, sunset, snow, etc.) | If the AI is wrong with the scene definition (for example, mistaking sand for snow) |
The Redmi Note 8 features a special feature called Scene Recognition, which can identify up to 27 different types of scenes, including rare scenes such as "city night lights" or "aquarium." AI It's not just using universal filters, it's adapting to a specific frame, like when you're shooting food, it's going to increase the saturation of red and green, and when you're photographing documents, it's going to increase the sharpness of the text and remove the glare.
But there's a downside to this smart processing, and sometimes AI can overdo it, like blurring the background of a portrait or making the colors look unnaturally bright, and in those cases, it's better to switch to manual settings or shut down the AI altogether.
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To quickly disable AI in the "Photo" mode, tap the screen twice in the viewfinder area - the inscription "AI off" will appear.
How to turn on or off AI in the Redmi Note 8 camera
By default, the artificial intelligence in the Redmi Note 8 is enabled in all modes where possible, but you can manually control it. Here's how to do it:
- Open the Camera app.
- In the top panel, look for the AI icon (usually illuminated in yellow or green).
- Slip the icon to turn off (the icon will turn grey).
- For more fine-tuning, go to Camera Settings → AI-camera.
On the menu. AI-The camera will give you several options:
- 🔍 Scene recognition – enabling/disabling automatic scene type determination;
- 👤 Improving portrait – correction of skin, eyes and facial shape;
- 🌃 Night mode. AI — elevation;
- 🎨 Color styles – the choice of the preferred palette (natural, bright, warm, etc.).
If you want to completely disable AI, do the following:
Settings → System applications → Camera → Reset settings → Disable AI- OptimizationNote that in some modes (e.g., Professional or Panorama), AI is automatically disabled because it involves manual settings, and AI does not work when shooting video at 4K resolution, in which case the priority is given to performance rather than post-processing.
Turn on Scene Recognition for everyday shooting|
Turn off "Portrait Improvement" when taking photos in studio settings |
Use "Night AI Mode" only in very low lighting |
Experiment with "Color Styles" for different genres (e.g., "warm" for sunsets)|-->
AI problems in the Redmi Note 8 camera and how to fix them
Despite all the advantages, the artificial intelligence in the Redmi Note 8 camera sometimes behaves incorrectly, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:
⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI AI-the camera has become worse (for example, incorrectly defines scenes or too aggressively processes the photo), try resetting the camera settings to the factory. → System applications → Camera. → Resetting settings.
- 🔄 AI It's always on itself -- check if the "Restore Default Settings" option is activated in the camera settings. Turn it off if you don't want your smartphone to reset your preferences.
- 🎭 Too strong face retouch - on the menu AI-camera → Improve the portrait, reduce the beauty slider to 20-30%. You can also completely disable skin correction, leaving only autofocus on the eyes.
- 🌆 The sky becomes unnaturally blue, a typical disease" AI When you're shooting landscapes, turn off Scene Recognition or manually reduce saturation in the photo editor.
- 🐢 Slow motion photography when on AI — If you want to use the algorithm to process it, if you want to use it for speed, like when you're shooting children or animals, turn it off. AI Or switch to "Fast Shooting" mode".
Another common complaint is that AI eats away at details in the shadows or, vice versa, makes the images too flat, because of aggressive HDR processing.
- Open the camera settings → AI-camera.
- Find the option “HDR Control” (or “Exposure Balance”).
- Move the slider closer to the "Natural" mark instead of "Bright".
If the problem persists, try using third-party photography apps like Google Camera (GCam) with HDR+ disabled. Many Redmi Note 8 users note that GCam gives more natural colors when the AI is turned off.
How to install Google Camera on Redmi Note 8
Comparison of photos with AI and without: which is better?
To see if AI really improves your images, it's worth making a simple comparison: We took some test photos on the Redmi Note 8 with AI on and off, and the results were mixed:
- 🌅 Landscapes: AI It made the contrast between the sky and the green, but it made the grass unnaturally bright. AI The colors are more natural, but the sky is faded.
- 👩 Portraits: AI I did a great job with background blur and face light, but I smoothed out the texture of the skin too much. AI Natural pores and wrinkles were preserved, but the background was too noisy.
- 🍝 Food: AI It made the dish more appetizing by increasing the red and yellow shades, but it overdid it with saturation. AI The food was less juicy, but realistic.
- 🏙️ Night photography: AI It reduced the noise considerably and restored the detail to the shadows, but the colors became too warm. AI The picture turned out colder, but with a noticeable graininess.
And from that comparison, we can conclude that AI is useful 80 percent of the time, but sometimes it's better to turn it off.
- 🖼️ You take pictures for printing or professional processing (AI may "spoil" RAW-file).
- 🎭 You need the most natural colors (for example, for art or design projects).
- 👶 You shoot fast-moving objects (children, animals, sports) — AI may slow down.
- 🌌 You are experimenting with manual settings (AI It will reset your parameters).
If you're in doubt about whether to turn on AI or not, try taking two frames in a row, with and without AI. Then compare them on the big screen. Often the difference becomes apparent only when you zoom in.
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The AI in the Redmi Note 8 camera works best in three scenarios: portraiture, night photography, and macro (small objects), all of which are subject to your preference for image style.
Hidden chips AI-Redmi Note 8 cameras that few people know about
Besides the standard features, the Redmi Note 8 has a few hidden AI features that can be activated through settings or special gestures:
- AI-Video stabilization: Included in camera settings → Stabilization of video → AI-It uses machine learning algorithms to compensate for hand tremors, and it's especially useful when shooting in motion.
- Real-time text recognition: In Document mode, AI not only aligns perspective, but can also recognize text in 10+ languages (including Russian).
- AI-Zoom: When shooting in Photo mode, keep your finger on the subject - the camera will automatically zoom in without loss of quality (the superresolution algorithm is used).
- Auto-Series Shooting: If you turn on the option AI-camera → Serial shooting with a smile, the smartphone will automatically take 3 frames in a row when the object smiles.
Another little-known function — "AI-It's hidden in Portrait mode, and it activates if you're taking pictures in a room with uniform lighting. AI It simulates studio lighting, adding soft shadows and highlights, like a softbox, to take advantage of:
1. Open Portrait Mode.
2.Make sure there is only one face in the frame.
3. Wait for the Studio icon to appear in the upper left corner.
4. Slap it on to apply the effect.Redmi Note 8 also has a hidden mode "AI-"a color" that only retains color on the selected object, making the rest of the image black and white:
- Open the Photo mode.
- Slip on the object that should remain colored.
- Hold your finger for 2 seconds until a hint appears "AI-colour".
- Take a picture.
⚠️ Note: Some hidden functions AI may not work after the update MIUI. If you do not see the options described, check the firmware version in Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI. For full-time work AI Recommended version not below MIUI 12.