AI is rising, but cameras still rule: What actors Rooqma Ray and Rohan Bhattacharya said at vivo launch

While artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of smartphones, for many users, the camera still remains at the heart of the experience.

This balance between creativity and technology is reflected in the views of actors Rooqma Ray and Rohan Bhattacharya, who spoke about their relationship with photography, social media and AI in the context of their everyday smartphone use.

(L-R) Rooqma Ray, Tiyasha Lepcha, Darshana Banik and Rohan Bhattacharya clicking a selfie together on newly-launched vivo phone.

For Rooqma Ray, photography remains deeply personal. “I love clicking pictures, and since I love travelling, taking photographs is a must for me. My phone gallery is always flooded with pictures, which serve as memories for me.

“Posting them on social media is fine, but looking back at those photos in my phone gallery gives me a nostalgic feeling,” she said.

Her comments underline a shift in the way smartphone photography is perceived.

Pictures are no longer only social-media content; they can also become personal archives of experiences and memories.

At the same time, Rooqma remains cautious about the growing influence of artificial intelligence.

(L-R) Rooqma Ray, Rohan Bhattacharya and Tiyasha Lepcha.

“My focus is still on social media rather than AI. Despite the rapid advancement of technology, I don’t think AI can disrupt our creativity. For now, I don’t think AI can have a significant impact on people,” she said at the launch of Vivo V80 and X Fold6 in Kolkata.

That creator-first approach finds a technological counterpart in the vivo V80, which is positioned around photography, video creation and AI-assisted creativity.

The smartphone features a ZEISS co-engineered camera system, including a 50MP main camera, 50MP ZEISS Night Telephoto camera and 50MP front camera. It also supports 4K cinematic video and 4K 60fps video, features aimed at users who want to capture travel, portraits and everyday moments directly from their phones.

The V80 also incorporates AI into the creative process through features such as AI Creative Camera, Live Sticker Collage and AI-powered tools designed to enhance photographs.

Rohan Bhattacharya, meanwhile, represents a more practical relationship with AI.

The launch event was graced by Rooqma Ray, Rohan Bhattacharya, Tiyasha Lepcha and Darshana Banik.

“Social media is important because, in today’s time, it provides information and also serves as a space for business. When it comes to AI, I use ChatGPT, which has turned out to be extremely beneficial for me. AI can be particularly helpful in emergency situations,” he said.

Yet, despite using AI, his priorities when buying a smartphone remain firmly rooted in imaging.

“When it comes to purchasing a phone, my primary focus remains on its camera features and quality because I click a lot of photos and make reels for work purposes,” Bhattacharya said.

His comments point to an interesting contradiction in the smartphone market: even as AI becomes increasingly prominent in product messaging, the camera remains one of the most tangible reasons for users to upgrade their devices.

The launch event was also graced by actors Tiyasha Lepcha and Darshana Banik.

Besides the phone launch, Vivo also unveiled its new Pujo DVC, produced by SVF Brands.

The film features Bengali actors Kaushik Sen, Anjana Basu, Surangana Bandyopadhyay and Anasuya Mazumdar.

Kaushik Sen and Surangana unveiled the video at the event.

Speaking at the launch, while Kaushik Sen said he belongs to a generation where phones still serve as a "medium of communication", Surangana, a Gen Z, treats mobile phones more as an important device as a space for "documents" in digital format.

Surangana Bandyopadhyay and Kaushik Sen (R) unveiling the Pujo DVC.

While the V80 is positioned around everyday creators and content creation, the X Fold6 combines flagship imaging with a larger foldable workspace designed for multitasking and productivity. The device features a 200MP ZEISS main camera, a ZEISS APO telephoto camera and a ZEISS ultra-wide-angle camera.

The X Fold6 also brings a 20.38-cm (8.02-inch) main display and OriginOS 7-based productivity features, allowing users to work across multiple applications on the larger canvas.

(Photos by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)