Creative GenerationConsumer FacingVerified
Reviewed and published by trentmaziarz, March 22, 2026. Discovered and drafted by our automated research pipeline.
Apple Intelligence lets users generate custom images and emoji using text descriptions. With Image Playground, a user can type a prompt and receive a stylized illustration or animation in seconds. With Genmoji, they can create a one-of-a-kind emoji — including one that looks like a friend or family member from their photos. Both features launched with iOS 18.2 in December 2024.
Details
Image Playground and Genmoji are powered by on-device text-to-image models running directly on Apple's own chips (A17 Pro and M-series). Image Playground offers three visual styles — Animation, Illustration, and Sketch — and is built into apps like Messages, Notes, and Keynote, and available to third-party developers via an API. Genmoji generation uses similar generative AI technology to create custom emoji characters from text descriptions or from a person's photo. To prevent realistic or misleading outputs, Apple restricted all styles to non-photorealistic aesthetics. These features are not available in mainland China as of early 2026.
Products affected
iPhone 15 ProiPhone 15 Pro MaxiPhone 16 lineupiPad (A17 Pro or M1 and later)Mac (M1 and later)iOS 18.2+iPadOS 18.2+macOS Sequoia 15.2+MessagesNotesKeynoteFreeformPages
Sources & Evidence
Company Disclosure
Other practices by Apple
OtherSafari's Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) uses machine learning running directly in the browser to identify advertising networks and data companies that track users across different websites, and then blocks or limits their ability to do so. First introduced in September 2017, ITP has been updated continuously and now blocks third-party tracking cookies entirely by default.Creative GenPersonal Voice is an accessibility feature introduced with iOS 17 in September 2023 that lets users create a synthetic voice that sounds like their own. It is designed primarily for people who are at risk of losing their ability to speak due to conditions like ALS. After recording 150 short phrases (roughly 15 minutes of audio), the device processes the recordings overnight using on-device machine learning and creates a voice clone the user can speak through in calls, FaceTime, and apps.OtherApple Watch uses machine learning algorithms to detect when a wearer has had a hard fall or been in a car crash, and can automatically contact emergency services if the person is unresponsive. Fall Detection has been available since Apple Watch Series 4 in 2018. Crash Detection for severe car accidents was added with the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8 in 2022.
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