Apple delays the release of Image Playground and Genmoji to iOS 18.2

Rumors have it that Apple's image generation feature may not be available until the release of iOS 18.2. The latest issue of Power On Communication suggests that the creation of Genmojis and the use of the new Image Playground will only be available later this year.

Mark Gurman of Bloomberg implies that there is unlikely to be a major upgrade to the AI platform this year. Instead, Apple may focus on changes to the iPhone itself. ReadWrite reported in July that advanced Siri features will be delayed as the full rollout has been postponed until 2025.

Arav Arora shared cool images of Apple's Image Playground on Twitter, stating, "Apple's Image Playground is so cool."

Gurman writes that by the fall of 2025, the availability of Apple Intelligence will increase, including new writing-related tools that can shorten and summarize group conversations, as well as help find appropriate vocabulary through the "Smart Reply" feature when drafting messages and emails.

In addition, OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot will be part of the launch later this year, while all major Siri new features will not arrive until next year.

The beta version of iOS 18.1 showcases some upcoming features, including notification summaries, improved writing tools, and methods to remove people or objects from images. It will also offer automatic transcription for phone calls and prioritize important emails in the Apple Mail app.

What are Image Playground and Genmoji?

Image Playground: Users can create fun images in seconds, choosing from three styles: animation, illustration, or sketch. It is expected to be integrated into applications, including Messages, and have its own dedicated app.

Genmoji: Users can generate custom emojis for friends and family by typing descriptions or even using their own photos. Like regular emojis, Genmojis can be embedded in messages or shared as stickers or Tapbacks.