Canon has just announced the development of a new flagship camera, which will be positioned above the current top model EOS R3. The Canon EOS R1 full-frame mirrorless camera is to be launched this year and will focus on sports, news, wildlife and video production (!!). So it looks like Canon wants to launch an uncompromising professional hybrid on the market.
However, specific information is still very vague. Compared to the EOS R3, the camera should offer improved performance in both photo and video recording. This is to be achieved through the "combination of a new image processing system and deep learning technology".
The basis for this is once again the newly developed AI image processor DIGIC Accelerator and a new CMOS sensor. In combination with the existing DIGIC X processor, this should enable faster data processing and optimized autofocus performance and tracking.
Canon announces a new EOS R1 flagship camera
In sports scenarios, the EOS R1 is able to continuously track the focus on subjects even if they are briefly out of sight - for example, when people cross paths in team sports. The newly developed "Priority Action" function tracks the main subject in sports scenarios based on the identification of certain key moments and actions (e.g. shooting a ball) and moves the AF frame there immediately so that the most important moments can be captured with ease.
Clearly, Canon is still working on field tests for this camera at upcoming international sporting events.
Canon also wants to integrate an AI function for noise reduction into the camera. This was already available under the name 
Neural Network Image Processing Tool as a separate Windows application.
The EOS R1 is due to be launched this year and is likely to be priced even higher than the R3, which was launched at an RRP of €5,999 and offered already remarkable 6K RAW quality for filmmakers.
;)