Camera Intelligence Caira – CEO Vishal Kumar on the New AI iPhone Camera Attachment and Lessons from the Alice Camera

Digital camera Intelligence, previously Alice Digital camera, has unveiled “Caira,” an AI-centric Micro 4 Thirds digicam attachment designed to magnetically connect with iPhones through MagSafe. The corporate plans to launch a Kickstarter marketing campaign on October 30, and in an e-mail interview with CineD, CEO Vishal Kumar mentioned the rebrand, shared new technical insights, and addressed success issues from early Alice Digital camera backers.Virtually to the day 5 years after the unique Alice Digital camera idea tried to merge smartphone comfort with interchangeable-lens imaging (right here’s a video interview with Vishal Kumar from again then), the London-based group is relaunching with sharper focus. Their new id, Digital camera Intelligence, indicators a long-term wager on integrating synthetic intelligence straight into digicam operation and inventive workflows. It may also have helped with securing extra funding within the present AI-craze (extra on that under). The upcoming Caira digicam is the primary product underneath that model.From Alice Digital camera to Digital camera IntelligenceAlice Digital camera started as an formidable 2020 prototype that turned smartphones into hybrid mirrorless cameras utilizing a Micro 4 Thirds sensor and mount. The idea, which debuted on Indiegogo in early 2021, drew international consideration but in addition criticism after delays stretched into a number of years.In response to Kumar, the rebrand represents greater than a brand new title. “Our core group is similar, however the mission has advanced,” he advised CineD. “We wished a model that displays what we truly construct now: not simply {hardware}, however clever digicam methods that study from creators and assist them specific themselves sooner.”Digital camera Intelligence CEO Vishal Kumar holding the Caira digicam. Picture credit score: Digital camera IntelligenceThe renaming to Digital camera Intelligence coincided with a reported €1.7 million funding spherical in September 2025. In response to the corporate, the funding is getting used to develop the corporate’s AI engineering and to finalize manufacturing of Caira, the second-generation digicam platform.What the brand new Caira digicam isCaira stays constructed across the Micro 4 Thirds system however replaces the sooner common clamp with a MagSafe-style mount for iPhone attachment. “It’s thinner, lighter, and the ergonomics are a lot improved,” Kumar defined. “By focusing purely on iOS, we have been in a position to make the {hardware} about 25% smaller and design it from the bottom as much as really feel like an extension of the telephone.”Generative AI “in” a digicam? Or on the telephone connected to the digicam?The digicam will join by means of a devoted Caira app, performing as each the management interface and AI processing hub. A key function is integration with Google’s Nano Banana generative mannequin, which permits prompt-based look creation, publicity tuning, and automatic model transformations throughout the app gallery.When requested whether or not the AI runs regionally on the gadget, Kumar clarified: “Not but. Nano Banana is built-in through Google Cloud’s API. We’ll deliver a few of that compute on-device in a future replace as soon as we migrate to a extra highly effective system-on-chip. The {hardware} is designed to permit that improve path.”He additionally hinted at extra options underneath improvement, together with an AI-assisted composition information that makes use of semantic scene understanding to counsel framings, and an adaptive coloration profile system skilled on creator-submitted LUTs. Each options are deliberate for rollout in 2026.Sizzling take: With placing one thing like Nano Banana generative AI onto a tool like that, I’ve to surprise what level there nonetheless is in having an MFT sensor, when you already go the AI-route – when the pictures “out of digicam” are usually not actual anymore, you may as effectively additionally add the shallow depth of subject utilizing Nano Banana and easily use an iPhone’s native cameras.Unique picture from the Caira digicam, unedited. Picture credit score: Digital camera IntelligenceSame picture with a necklace added to the topic, utilizing Google’s Nano Banana mannequin. Picture credit score: Digital camera IntelligenceAI options and roadmapThe firm envisions Caira as a “co-pilot” for creators, not a alternative for handbook management. “AI shouldn’t be there to make artistic selections for you,” mentioned Kumar. “It’s there to take away friction—setting white stability intelligently, managing publicity throughout scenes, and suggesting corrections while you’re capturing solo. However you all the time keep in management.”He confirmed that current Alice Digital camera customers will achieve entry to elements of the brand new software program surroundings. “We’re releasing an iOS replace for model 1 house owners that introduces our new assistant and a few early AI-driven options like good tagging and coloration model presets.”This continuity suggests Digital camera Intelligence intends to maintain supporting early adopters quite than ranging from scratch with a brand new ecosystem.All of the options the Caira app will supposedly have on launch. Picture credit score: Digital camera IntelligenceKickstarter timing and availabilityThe Caira marketing campaign is about to launch on October 30, 2025, and early backers are promised to obtain their cameras in Q1 2026. Kumar advised CineD the manufacturing pipeline is already in movement: “Tooling is full, and our provide companions within the UK and Japan are confirmed. We discovered quite a bit from the primary spherical—this time, the logistics and certification work have been executed earlier than launch.”Preliminary shipments will goal the US, UK, and EU, the place regulatory clearance has already been secured. Pricing and detailed specs are anticipated to be introduced nearer to the Kickstarter launch.Addressing remaining Alice Digital camera backersCineD has beforehand reported that Alice Digital camera model 1 started transport in mid-2024 after lengthy delays. Nonetheless, some early Indiegogo supporters nonetheless reported non-delivery all through 2024 and 2025. Kumar acknowledged that round 20% of these orders stay excellent.“We’re actively fulfilling the remaining items now,” he mentioned. “The principle points have been compliance and certification for Wi-Fi modules, which differ by area. The UK was notably tough because of a separate trademark dispute that blocked shipments for months. However we’ve secured the ultimate inventory, and all backers will obtain their cameras.”After asking him in regards to the “anticipated supply in August 2025” notes on the Alice Digital camera web site, he added that any confusion across the Alice Digital camera web site has been addressed: “We eliminated the outdated supply discover and outdated promotional banners. It was a mistake that the textual content ‘supply in 1–2 weeks’ remained there after we stopped taking new orders. That’s mounted.”Whereas Caira is an iOS-only gadget, Kumar mentioned the corporate is monitoring Android consumer demand: “If there’s sufficient curiosity, we might produce one other small run of Alice v1 or a variant with Android integration.”Caira digicam in use. Picture credit score: Digital camera IntelligenceCompany construction and brandingKumar confirmed that Photogram Ltd continues because the authorized dad or mum, whereas Digital camera Intelligence is its energetic buying and selling title for all future merchandise. “There isn’t a new entity,” he emphasised. “We merely wished to replicate the expanded scope. Our ambition now’s to merge imaging and intelligence, not simply ship a intelligent add-on digicam.”The CEO additionally described the agency’s long-term plan: “Caira is just the start. The following stage is to combine generative AI deeper into seize. Meaning real-time topic understanding, automated digicam strikes, and smarter grading strategies primarily based on scene evaluation. We see this because the pure subsequent step for hybrid creators.”What stays unclearWhile Caira’s idea and AI integration are effectively outlined, a number of technical particulars stay underneath wraps. The corporate has not but confirmed the sensor producer, processor, or inner recording codecs. Kumar declined to specify body charges or codecs however mentioned, “It is going to be corresponding to trendy mirrorless cameras when it comes to picture high quality, however with a smartphone workflow.”Digital camera Intelligence plans to publish an in depth technical sheet nearer to the marketing campaign date. Till then, potential backers ought to count on an emphasis on usability and AI-assisted seize quite than uncooked specs.Garments can simply be modified straight in-app after capturing the picture with the Caira. Right here: Nano Banana is used for prompting. Photos credit score. Digital camera IntelligenceBottom lineWith Caira, Digital camera Intelligence makes an attempt to redefine what a “good digicam” might be. By mixing Micro 4 Thirds optics, iPhone ergonomics, and a set of AI options that genuinely help quite than exchange creators, the corporate positions itself on the intersection of filmmaking and machine studying. It stays to be seen how customers will react to this proposition when the marketing campaign begins. We’re saying this on the finish of each crowdfunding-related article: please pay attention to the dangers when baking a challenge on a crowdfunding platform. Please learn Kickstarter’s phrases of use – particularly the part about “Backing a challenge”. Remember that there might be vital delays when delivering the product, as we now have seen it with the Alice Digital camera previously. Some merchandise even don’t get delivered in any respect.However the historical past of delayed deliveries nonetheless looms massive. Can Digital camera Intelligence regain the belief of backers and ship on each generations of merchandise whereas pioneering AI-native imaging? The reply might depend upon how easily the upcoming Kickstarter rollout unfolds.