No one is not talking about AI these days. Generative AI is the hottest technology trend of 2023, but while it's great to see Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna show off her TikTok moves, it's not revolutionizing my life. What really interests me is the integration of AI into everyday technology, and the OBSBot Tiny 2 is a prime example of this technological marvel.

I'm a bit confused as to whether Tiny 2 is a webcam on gimbals or a tiny robot with a camera eye. Regardless of how you look at it, this $329 gadget is the most impressive webcam I've ever seen, and I feel it would be rude to label it simply as a webcam.

The Tiny 2 has a 1/1.5-inch CMOS sensor and can shoot 4K video at 30 fps with HDR, and thanks to its AI smarts, it has lightning-fast autofocus, full motion tracking, and even recognizes limited voice and gesture commands.

Considering it is about half the size of my Razer Basilisk V3 Pro mouse, the Tiny 2 lives up to its name, standing only 6cm tall and weighing 95g. It comes with a separate metal clamp that attaches magnetically, allowing the camera to be mounted freely in tricky locations without fear of it falling off. The clamp also has a 1/4" screw mount, making it ideal for content creators who want to use it with a standard tripod.

The Tiny 2 can connect via USB 3.0 and 2.0, but only 3.0 if you are looking at 4K recording. There is no privacy cover, but the camera does have a line of sight down when not in use. In addition, there is a dynamic LED on the front that lets you know when the camera is on or responding to your commands. As my 8-year-old daughter can attest, saying "Hey Tiny" never gets old.

Digging into the glass hardware, the Tiny 2 boasts a 50MP, 1/1.5-inch CMOS sensor, f/1.9 aperture, and 26mm focal length. This allows for creamy bokeh and separation of foreground and background for a real professional look. The camera is capable of up to 4x zoom and supports both autofocus and manual focus.

Supported resolutions are 4K, 1080p60, 960p, and 720p, with frame rates of 60, 30, 25, 24, 20, and 15 frames per second for non-4K. Output options include MJPEG, YUV, and H264 formats to accommodate video creators' preferences. In addition, the Tiny 2 works seamlessly with OBS Studio, Nvidia Broadcast, Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet.

When it comes to image quality, the Tiny 2 excels. It captures detail, contrast, and color superbly. As a brown person, I did not see any difficulty in accurately capturing my skin tone and blemishes. As with many webcams with small sensors, noise is noticeable in dark areas, but the camera performs well in low light. The key light dramatically improves image quality.

The Tiny 2 also has a built-in dual omni-directional microphone with noise reduction. While not ideal for streaming, it does a commendable job on calls at work, especially if you are in a noisy place like a cafe.

To realize the full potential of the Tiny 2, the OBSBot Webcam app is a must. The app has a main console for fine-tuning tracking modes and setting presets, and includes a virtual joystick for controlling the gimbal and zoom The AI section has specialized options for desk mode, whiteboard, hand tracking, and group video options are available.

The Image and Beauty tabs provide control over specific image settings, effects, exposure, color grading, and filters. The retouching settings allow you to do quirky things like altering body parts. The software is feature-rich and would require a separate article to cover everything in depth.

Some features require the OBSBot VirtualCamera feature to be activated, which acts as a proxy for applying effects in applications that do not inherently support effects, such as Zoom or MS Teams.

In conclusion, I stand by my assertion that the OBSBot Tiny 2 is the most impressive camera I have ever encountered, whether you are an office worker, a big streamer, or a TikTok dancer. Its ability to shoot amazing high-resolution video, track movement, and respond to commands is a breakthrough for solo creatives. The price may be high, but considering what you get, it is well worth the investment.