Apple's new AI update: Create and customize friend images
"The new tools may perhaps prove the most controversial," reports The Independent. An Apple software update introduces generative artificial intelligence features that allow users to create images of friends or family. This option is already available in select countries.
2:37 PM EST, December 11, 2024
Apple has released a significant update that incorporates features related to artificial intelligence (AI) on iPhones and other company platforms. The new update is part of the Apple Intelligence suite of features unveiled in June and has gradually rolled out to iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices in recent months. These include an updated version of Siri and summaries of long or numerous notifications.
You'll be able to generate a friend or family member
The new tools introduce generative AI features that allow users to create images or emojis. While these features have sparked enthusiasm in recent years, they have also faced consistent criticism from designers and others who fear they may undermine creative work. Apple's own generative features are relatively limited. They appear in the form of Genmoji, which lets users create new emojis, a feature that transforms illustrations into more developed images called Magic Wand, and an application dedicated to image creation, Image Playgrounds.
What might prove to be the most controversial? According to the British newspaper The Independent, users can create these images using AI from various prompts—including using photos of friends and family. They can choose a person and then request an image depicting them engaged in a specific activity or set against an imaginary background. Apple has implemented restrictions on these images to prevent the creation of abusive or other problematic images.
The latest updates also bring Apple Intelligence features to the United Kingdom for the first time. Previously, they were only available in the United States. They remain unavailable in many regions, including Europe, due to language issues, but primarily because of regulatory concerns.
The new update is now available with iOS and iPadOS 18.2, as well as MacOS Sequoia 15.2. It can be downloaded from the Settings app.
