Apple intends to launch its picture generating tools with the release of iOS 18.2 later this year, according to information disclosed by Mark Gurman in the most recent Power On newsletter. If Apple follows its usual schedule, we can expect the first beta version to roll out in October, with the final release slated for December.

The timeline for these image generation features had been uncertain, as neither Genmoji nor Image Playground appeared in the existing iOS 18.1 betas. This led to speculation about potential delays or whether the features would even be released this year. However, Gurman has clarified that these features will debut with iOS 18.2, which will include both the new Image Playground app and Genmoji. This update represents a significant advancement in Apple’s Apple Intelligence initiative, though the revamped Siri with personal context is still anticipated to be introduced in iOS 18.4 next spring.

Another anticipated Apple Intelligence feature, ChatGPT integration within Siri and across the system, is also missing. Nevertheless, Apple CEO Tim Cook has confirmed that this feature is expected to arrive later this year, likely with iOS 18.2.

Image Playground is a new Apple tool designed to create various “creative” AI-generated images in three styles: Animation, Illustration, and Sketch. It does not support photorealistic image generation, which may be a deliberate choice to focus on creative visuals. More details about Image Playground can be found here.

Genmoji, on the other hand, enables users to create custom emojis from simple prompts, allowing for more personalized expressions beyond standard Unicode emojis. These custom emojis can be used inline with text, blending seamlessly with traditional emojis.

Apple is also offering APIs for developers to integrate Genmoji into their applications. In apps that do not support Genmoji, these custom emojis will appear as images rather than traditional emojis.

Apple initially unveiled its Apple Intelligence features at WWDC24 in June, but they were not included in the first iOS 18.0 betas. Reports in late July suggested a delay until iOS 18.1, which then included features like Writing Tools and Notification Summaries.

To utilize Apple Intelligence features, users will need an iPhone 15 Pro or later, or an iPad or Mac equipped with an M1 chip or newer. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are also expected to support these features, with the base model likely offering 8GB of RAM.