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

The upcoming release of Apple Intelligence is nearly upon us, introducing some of the most eagerly awaited features. However, two of these—Genmoji and Image Playground—come with crucial limitations in iOS 18.2 that you should be aware of.

The significance of safeguards for AI-generated images

While AI image generation can be entertaining, it has a concerning history.

Deepfakes present a significant issue, but they are not the only problem. Consider these alarming headlines from the recent Pixel 9 launch:

Such headlines, along with other foreseeable issues stemming from AI-generated images, have prompted Apple to establish some protective measures with its AI-driven image functionalities.

Apple’s safeguards for image generation

Here’s how Apple is approaching Genmoji and Image Playground differently in iOS 18.2:

1. Non-realistic rendering styles: Some AI image generators allow for photorealistic creations. However, Apple is rejecting this for now. Genmoji will only feature animations akin to standard emojis, while Image Playground restricts images to three styles: Animation, Illustration, and Sketch. Hence, whatever you create will not be mistaken for a real object.
2. Prohibited recognized intellectual properties: You might want to create a whimsical image of Darth Vader wearing a Santa hat, but recognized characters like Vader, Mickey Mouse, SpongeBob SquarePants, and others are off the table. If you attempt to generate an image with a character’s name, iOS 18.2 will respond with an error: ‘Unable to use that description.’ A similar error will occur if you upload an inspiration image of a known character in Image Playground.
3. New waitlist: While iOS 18.1 employed a waitlist for all Apple Intelligence features, iOS 18.2 introduces a distinct waitlist just for image generation functionalities. If you had access to AI features in 18.1, you will still need to open Image Playground or Genmoji and explicitly request access to the new image options after updating. This staggered rollout is designed to help Apple monitor the performance of these new tools.

Conclusion on iOS 18.2’s Apple Intelligence

The image tools in iOS 18.2 are just a part of the larger narrative surrounding the upcoming major AI feature release.

In addition, a variety of other Apple Intelligence features are expected next month, such as ChatGPT integration, Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16 models, and more.

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

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