Three Essential Guardrails of iOS 18.2’s Genmoji and Image Playground You Should Be Aware Of

The forthcoming iteration of Apple Intelligence is right around the corner, introducing some eagerly awaited features. Among these are Genmoji and Image Playground, which will include essential safeguards in iOS 18.2 that you should be aware of.

The significance of safeguards for AI-generated images

While AI image creation can be an enjoyable experience, it also comes with significant concerns.

Deepfakes pose a serious challenge on their own, but they aren’t the only issue. Consider these alarming headlines from the recent Pixel 9 launch:

Headlines like these, along with the myriad concerns that AI-generated images can cause, have prompted Apple to put in place safeguard measures for its AI imaging tools.

Apple’s safeguards for image generation

Here’s what sets Apple’s approach to Genmoji and Image Playground apart in iOS 18.2:

1. Non-realistic designs: Unlike some AI image generation solutions that allow for photorealistic creations, Apple has opted out of this for the moment. Genmoji animations resemble regular emojis, and Image Playground generates images exclusively in three formats: Animation, Illustration, and Sketch. This ensures that whatever you create cannot be mistaken for reality.
2. No recognizable intellectual property: While you might want to generate an image of, say, a well-known character wearing a festive hat, that won’t be possible. Characters like Darth Vader, Mickey Mouse, and SpongeBob SquarePants are restricted. If a user tries to generate an image featuring a recognized character, iOS 18.2 will display an error message stating, ‘Unable to use that description.’ The same restriction applies if you upload an image of a famous character for inspiration in Image Playground.
3. Exclusive waitlist: A waitlist for Apple’s Intelligence features was introduced in iOS 18.1. However, even if you have access in 18.1, a new dedicated waitlist exists for image-related features in iOS 18.2. Upon updating, users will need to open Image Playground or Genmoji and explicitly request access to these new imaging functionalities. This gradual rollout is designed to help Apple ensure that the new tools are functioning optimally.

Overview of iOS 18.2 Apple Intelligence

The image tools in iOS 18.2 represent just one aspect of the upcoming major AI feature release.

Numerous additional features from Apple Intelligence are on the horizon next month, including integration with ChatGPT, Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16 models, and much more.

What are your thoughts on Apple’s image safeguards? Share your opinion in the comments.

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