[Digital Today reporter Hyeonwoo Chu (추현우)] Leica said generative AI functions should be considered separately from its traditional cameras, while there is room to use them in licensed brands such as the Xiaomi 17T series.

TechRadar, an IT media outlet, reported on May 30 that the remarks were made at a roundtable held after the launch of the Xiaomi 17T Pro. The Xiaomi 17T Pro smartphone is marketed with a Leica-tuned camera and Google’s text-to-video tool, “Gemini Omni.” The Leica-Xiaomi collaboration has continued since 2022.

Marius Eschweiler (마리우스 에슈바일러), vice president of Leica’s mobile business unit, explained that Leica’s philosophy is to create authentic images that faithfully reproduce reality. He said smartphone users and traditional camera users use devices differently, adding that Leica offers several modes on smartphones that also focus on authenticity.

Leica did not rule out generative AI itself. Eschweiler cited a postcard-style video example demonstrated at the event and said serious photography and making something with generative AI serve different purposes. He said such functions would be hard to find on Leica M cameras, but fit well with the Xiaomi 17T series.

Leica also highlighted a photo authenticity verification function. Pablo Acevedo Noda (파블로 아세베도 노다), head of Leica Mobile Development and Engineering, said it provides a “Content Credentials” feature that adds a digital signature to photos taken with Leica hardware. The function is also used to verify the authenticity of photos taken with Xiaomi smartphones.

Acevedo Noda said it is important to be able to check whether a photo was manipulated later. Some edits may not be noticeable, but related information remains in metadata, he added. Google also announced a “Verify AI” upgrade at Google I/O 2026 held this month.