In Apple’s upcoming iOS18 system, artificial intelligence functions have attracted much attention, and the “Image Playground” application has attracted particular attention. The application can generate cartoon-style illustrations based on text prompts, providing users with a new way of creative expression. However, Apple has only shown examples of this application at press conferences before, lacking real application cases. This article will take an in-depth look at the “Image Playground” application that Apple shared publicly for the first time to generate images, and explain the technology and meaning behind it.
Apple’s upcoming iOS 18 system is built with a range of exciting artificial intelligence features that can not only rewrite your text messages and summarize emails, but also recognize objects in photos.
But the most interesting feature is “Image Playground,” an app that generates cartoon-style illustrations based on text prompts.
It is worth noting that although Apple showed many examples of this application at the product launch, we have not seen any application cases in real scenarios until now.
Recently, Apple exclusively shared a picture generated through Image Playground with WIRED, marking the first time they have demonstrated this technology outside of marketing materials.
In this picture, a cute dog wearing a party hat sits smiling next to a birthday cake. The dog's name is Bailey, and it is the pet dog of Apple Senior Vice President Craig Federighi! In order to celebrate Bailey's birthday for his wife, Federighi specially used this app to generate this illustration.
In an interview with WIRED reporter Lily Hay Newman, Federighi mentioned this illustration and also introduced the private cloud computing environment built by Apple to ensure the security of AI task requests that cannot be processed on the user's device. Apple later shared this image.
In order to ensure transparency, "WIRED" will clearly identify AI-generated images when publishing them, so this image also has a watermark.
Now, Image Playground coincides with a time when generative AI tools are gradually being integrated into the software of major technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, and Meta, which have all launched AI software focused on productivity and creativity.
Apple also attaches great importance to practical AI functions in iOS18, and also adds some purely fun applications. Image Playground is a good example.
Not only can this app be used standalone, but it can also be accessed within the Messages app. To generate an image, you can enter a description, select a photo, or choose from preset concepts, and you can even choose between illustration, sketch, or animation styles.
It should be noted that this generated AI function is not currently in the beta version. Although there are some other AI features in the iOS18.1 developer beta version, the output examples of Image Playground and Gemoji are still strictly controlled by Apple. Until these features are officially released, Federighi’s dog photos are the most realistic example we’ll see!
Highlight:
? Apple released an AI-generated picture for the first time, showing an executive’s pet dog Bailey.
“Image Playground” can generate cartoon-style illustrations based on text prompts, adding to the fun.
The iOS18 system integrates a variety of AI functions and is expected to be officially released soon.
Through the birthday photo of Federighi’s dog Bailey, we can get a glimpse of the power and fun of the AI function in the iOS18 system. The emergence of Image Playground heralds Apple's active exploration in the field of AI, and also brings more convenience and fun to users. Looking forward to the official release of iOS18, let us experience more surprises brought by AI.