Camera Intelligence Unveils AI-Powered Caira
Camera Intelligence, the London-based startup formerly known as Alice Camera, has announced Caira, its second-generation Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera. The device attaches magnetically to iPhones via Apple’s MagSafe system and integrates Google’s generative AI model “Nano Banana” for real-time, in-camera image editing.
Like the previous Alice Camera, Caira connects to a smartphone over Wi-Fi and is controlled entirely through a dedicated iOS app; the new model, indeed, does not support Android devices. The hardware continues to use the Micro Four Thirds mount and sensor format, allowing compatibility with a wide range of lenses. The camera uses Qualcomm Snapdragon and Google Edge TPU chips and includes a 5,000 mAh battery.
Caira’s key distinction lies in its integration of Google’s Nano Banana, a generative AI model capable of performing text-prompted edits directly within the camera app. Users can modify lighting, alter colors, add or remove objects, or transform scenes without relying on post-production software. Camera Intelligence says the system prevents the modification of facial structure, skin tone, or ethnicity, and embeds the model name and prompt data into image metadata for transparency.
In addition to generative editing, the camera incorporates a new autofocus mechanism developed internally. Rather than relying on traditional contrast or phase detection, it employs a neural network that estimates subject distance and drives lens movement accordingly. According to CEO Vishal Kumar, this system was designed entirely in-house.
Caira’s software features also include six preset image styles, voice control, and the ability to generate custom looks through AI. The camera lacks a built-in display: the iPhone serves as both viewfinder and control interface. The company indicates that Nano Banana currently operates via Google Cloud’s API, but local processing may be introduced in a later update once hardware upgrades permit on-device computation.
The company describes Caira as an “AI-native” imaging system rather than a conventional camera. It says it aims to reduce production friction by combining capture and generative editing in a single workflow, allowing users to shoot, modify, and share images without external devices. The company maintains that Caira is designed as a creative assistant rather than a replacement for manual control, and that is developing additional AI-based tools, including automated composition guidance and adaptive color profiles trained on user-submitted LUTs, which are expected to be introduced in future firmware updates.
Here are some sample pictures, showing before and after the generative AI editing. All of them are courtesy of Camera Intelligence:
The Kickstarter campaign for Caira is scheduled to begin on October 30, 2025. The first production units are planned to ship in early 2026 to the United Kingdom, European Union, and United States.
Camera Intelligence has not yet disclosed full sensor specifications, recording formats, or detailed technical data, and pricing has not been finalized, though early campaign information suggests an introductory cost around $695, increasing to $995 after the crowdfunding period.
