Apple is set to bring AI-based Image Generation Feature "Image Playground" in iOS 18.2

This year's most noteworthy news about iPhone and iOS revolves around AI functionalities. However, the upcoming official release of iOS 18 will feature only a handful of AI capabilities, with a promise of more to come in the subsequent iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2 updates.

Today, Bloomberg's editor Mark Gurman shared new insights in his Power On newsletter about the Image Playground and Genmoji features, suggesting these might arrive with iOS 18.2.

Traditionally, based on Apple's release schedule, the iOS 18.2 beta version is expected in October, which means we'll soon discover the new functionalities it brings.

Although Apple introduced AI image generation at WWDC 2024, there hasn't been much follow-up news, such as updates on Siri and overall system-wide ChatGPT support.

Optimistically, Apple may start rolling out these AI feature updates by next spring, with the official release of iOS 18.2 expected before the end of the year, and more functionalities likely in iOS 18.4.

Image Playground, developed by Apple using artificial intelligence, allows users to generate various AI images based on input prompts. Users can also choose between animation, illustration, or sketch styles, indicating Apple's cautious approach to prevent the generation of hyper-realistic images due to potential misuse risks.

Genmoji, another AI-driven feature, enables the creation of custom emoji expressions, allowing users to generate a broader range of emojis in styles similar to existing ones. These functionalities will be supported in iMessages, enhancing communication.