The upcoming iOS 18.2 update for iPhones will introduce advanced AI features from Apple's own AI system, Apple Intelligence, with a key highlight being the Image Playground app.
Image Playground is Apple’s new AI-powered image creation app, allowing users to generate images in a cartoon-like style based on text descriptions. It provides suggestions to assist with image creation and lets you share your images with others through various apps.
Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about Image Playground:
About Image Playground
After updating to iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS Sequoia 15.2, Image Playground will be added to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac’s home screen. When you open the app, you’ll see instructions on how to use it. At the bottom is a text bar labeled “Describe an image,” where you can type any description you want, and the app will create an image for you.
You can adjust the result by adding new descriptions or using the app’s suggestions, with several images generated per description to choose from. You can add or remove words and phrases until the image meets your expectations.
“Beta Phase”
Currently in beta, Apple encourages users to provide feedback to improve the app’s performance. You’ll find thumbs-up and thumbs-down icons to rate how well the app met your expectations. Selecting thumbs-down opens a page where you can specify issues and add written details.
Once satisfied with an image, click “Done” to save it in Image Playground’s library, where you can later edit, delete, or share it with others. Additional tools allow you to copy, share, or save images while creating them.
Creating Drawings from Photos of People
With Image Playground, you can transform real photos stored in your Photos app into drawings. Choose a person’s photo, and the app will generate various styles to select from. This feature is limited to photos saved in the People album. Note that the AI won’t recognize a celebrity’s name in a description but will create images based on a stored photo of them if added to the Photos app.
Image Playground Suggestions
If you’re unsure where to start, Image Playground offers preset themes like Adventure, Summer, and Sunset. You can also choose settings like City, Space, Desert, Parks, and Forests, then refine your selection by adding details in the text description.
Animation Styles
Image Playground is limited to non-realistic styles to prevent misuse. You can choose from two styles: Animation (3D) and Illustration (2D).
Creating from Existing Photos
You can take or import a photo and use it as the main subject or background for a new Image Playground creation.
Image Playground in Messages
Share images directly in Messages by selecting Image Playground from the “+” button in a conversation. After creating an image, click “Done,” and it will appear in your message field, ready to send.
Sharing Images with Others
Images can be shared via AirDrop, Messages, email, or saved to Photos or Files. If you have Instagram installed, you can upload images from Image Playground directly.
Usage Restrictions
Currently in beta, Image Playground may produce unexpected results depending on descriptions. It struggles with generating images featuring multiple subjects, and images of people will only display upper-body portraits. Creating images involving multiple subjects (e.g., a person with a cat) or handling text within images is challenging for the app. Additionally, descriptions involving certain restricted terms won’t yield results.
Apple has taken extensive steps to prevent inappropriate content generation and will continue improving the app. However, unexpected results are still possible in the beta.
Copyright
Image Playground doesn’t allow users to create images of copyrighted characters, like Bluey or Mickey Mouse.
Privacy and Security
Images generated in Image Playground are processed entirely on-device. None of the data is sent to cloud servers or shared with third parties. However, Apple collects user feedback to improve the app’s functionality.Availability
Image Playground is currently available in the iOS 18.2 developer beta. A public beta release date has yet to be announced.
