Apple has begun rolling out iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2 operating systems. The updates will bring a host of new Apple Intelligence features to supported devices, including Image Playground, Genmoji, and ChatGPT integration.
Image source: Apple
With the Image Playground tool, users can generate and edit images using text queries or Apple templates. Image Playground appears to eschew photorealism and opt for a cartoon or stylized look to its images to prevent potential misuse. The Image Playground tool is available as a standalone app and is also integrated into Messages, Freeform, and Keynote.
Genmoji allows users to create their own emoji images (Emojipedia calls them “emoji-like stickers”), which analysts say could become very popular in group chats. The Notes app also includes an Image Wand tool that turns simple sketches into rich, customizable images.
The most notable innovation in the new versions of the OS is the integration with ChatGPT, which allows the user to access the OpenAI tool from Siri or when using Apple’s writing tools. Among the features provided are a tool for creating text based on user prompts and a function for generating images for inserting directly into a document. You do not need a ChatGPT account to use these tools.
Other new features in iOS 18.2 include Visual Intelligence, the ability to share AirTag locations via a link, daily Sudoku puzzles in Apple News Plus, and more. Localized English support has also been expanded to Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK. Support for additional languages such as Chinese, French, Portuguese and Spanish will be rolled out during 2025. In the European Union, deployment of Apple Intelligence features is scheduled to begin in April 2025.
IOS 18.2 is compatible with all iPhones released after 2018, that is, starting with the iPhone Xs. iPadOS 18.2 can be installed on any Apple tablet starting with the seventh generation iPad (2019), iPad Air from the third generation, iPad mini from the fifth generation and iPad Pro from the first generation for the 11-inch version and the third generation for 12.9-inch inch. Finally, macOS Sequoia 15.2 is compatible with most Macs younger than 2018.
However, Apple Intelligence features are available on far fewer devices. In the case of iPhone, these are only models of the iPhone 16 family, as well as iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. To work with Apple Intelligence, the iPad, as well as the Mac computer, requires an Apple M-series chip, at least an Apple M1.