Transitioning to the Neural ISP

An image signal processor (ISP) is the dedicated on-device camera hardware responsible for transforming raw sensor measurements into the visually pleasing images we recognize as digital photographs. Traditionally, ISPs have been built from carefully engineered signal-processing algorithms, each tailored to a specific stage of the imaging pipeline. This paradigm is now shifting with advances in artificial intelligence which are beginning to replace or augment conventional ISP components. In this talk, I will discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with transitioning to neural-network–based ISP design, highlighting emerging capabilities, practical deployment considerations, and open research directions in next-generation computational imaging.