Apple Throws Its Hat in the AI Ring, But Will It Stick the Landing?
Hold onto your hats, folks, because Apple just announced a whole slew of AI-powered features in its upcoming iOS 18.2 update. We’re talking AI image generation, custom emoji that look like your friends (creepy or cool?), and even Siri getting a brain boost from ChatGPT. But before we all start bowing down to our robot overlords, let’s take a closer look at what Apple’s cooking up.
First up, we have “Image Playground,” Apple’s take on the AI image generators that have been popping up like mushrooms after a rain. You can describe what you want or use Apple’s suggestions to create images in animation or illustration styles. Think of it as DALL-E’s less photorealistic cousin. Oh, and it’s also built into Messages, so get ready for your group chats to be flooded with AI-generated memes.
Then there are “Genmoji,” which are basically AI-generated emoji that can be based on your friends and family. If you’ve ever wanted to turn your grandma into an emoji, well, now you can. Just be prepared for some awkward Thanksgiving dinners if she finds out.
And what about Siri? Well, she’s not being left out of the AI party. Apple is integrating ChatGPT, so if Siri can’t answer your question, she’ll pass it over to the AI chatbot. Think of it as Siri finally getting a subscription to Google.
But hold your horses, because not everyone gets to play with these shiny new toys just yet. You’ll need an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 to get the full Apple Intelligence experience. And even then, some of the features, like Genmoji and Image Playground, are on a waiting list. So, you might have to wait a little longer before you can unleash your inner AI artist.
Look, it’s clear Apple is taking AI seriously, but whether these features will be a game-changer or just another tech fad remains to be seen. They’re entering a field that’s already pretty crowded, and they’ll have to convince users that their AI is worth the hype. But hey, at least they’re finally joining the party, right?
From the sales floor to the critic's corner, I'm a former Apple Sales Specialist who's not afraid to tell it like it is. Get my honest takes on the iPhone, Mac, and everything Apple. | Los Angeles, California.