Is photography getting too polished for its own good? In Episode 679 of The Grid, Scott and Erik dive into the rise of intentional imperfection—sparked by a widely discussed article from AI founder Matt Shumer about how fast artificial intelligence is evolving (and what that means for all of us). While the article isn't about photography, the implications hit hard: AI can now edit, restore, generate, and even show signs of “taste.” As flawless, AI-smoothed images risk feeling sterile, more photographers are leaning into grit, grain, nostalgia, and authenticity. They unpack presets vs. learning, Gemini inside Photoshop, AI-powered restoration, and the bigger question—what makes a photo feel real in the first place? This Week's Sponsors: Imagen | Boris FX | Canon | B&H | Platypod | KelbyOne | Profoto | Litra | V-Flat Grid | Retouch4me