With the release of iOS 18.2, Apple took another step in its Apple Intelligence journey, promising exciting advancements in artificial intelligence across its devices.
From generating fun characters in Image Playground to supposedly smarter Siri commands, Apple’s latest AI update has users curious but leaves many underwhelmed.
The headline feature? Image Playground, which lets users turn themselves into cartoonish avatars. While entertaining, it falls short of the transformative AI Apple initially teased.
Image Playground and Genmoji: Fun but limited
Image Playground transforms photos into whimsical creations, like turning yourself into a wizard. It’s a neat distraction that lets users share animated avatars, like the Genmoji, across apps.
Hidden deep in the Messages app, Genmoji allows users to create tiny, emoji-like versions of themselves. Yet its obscure placement raises questions about Apple’s confidence in its appeal.
These tools are fun, but they don’t represent the leap forward users expect from Apple Intelligence. Critics argue they’re a far cry from Apple’s initial vision of seamless, system-aware AI.
Siri’s Missed Opportunities
Apple’s AI updates claim Siri can now perform hundreds of new actions across apps, including sharing specific photos. However, in real-world tests, Siri falters.
When asked to send photos from a recent party, Siri responded, “I can only send screenshots from here.” Such responses reveal the assistant’s limited contextual understanding—a core weakness compared to competitors.
Siri’s redesign in iOS 18.2 introduces a sleeker interface but doesn’t address functionality gaps.
For example, asking Siri to “Open screenshot” resulted in another screenshot being taken instead of opening the Screenshot album. This kind of basic misinterpretation continues to frustrate users.
System Awareness Still Lacking
Apple touted Siri’s improved system integration, but users report mixed results. While it can toggle features like Dark Mode and navigate apps like Home, it falls short in addressing user-specific needs.
For instance, Siri can’t diagnose smart home connectivity issues or identify unlinked devices. Even third-party app integration is problematic. When asked to compose a Threads post, Siri repeatedly asked, “To who?”—missing the point entirely.
The Competition Leaves Siri Behind
Siri’s inability to engage in meaningful conversations also hampers its usability. While platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini offer AI-powered voice assistants that can hold contextual conversations and execute complex tasks, Siri remains basic.
Its witty one-liners—like pondering eternity—provide brief amusement but highlight its lack of depth.
Competitors have embraced generative AI chatbots that are capable of providing real-time understanding and assistance. Apple’s slow rollout and careful testing of Apple Intelligence risk leaving it behind in the fast-moving AI race.
Borrowed Brilliance: The Camera Control Feature
One of iOS 18.2’s standout features is Camera Control, which allows users to query images directly through “Ask” or “Search” buttons.
However, these queries rely on third-party AI like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google Search, not Apple’s proprietary AI. While these integrations work well, they underscore Apple’s limited contribution to its own AI ecosystem.
Final Thoughts on Apple’s AI Journey
Apple Intelligence is clearly a work in progress. While features like Image Playground entertain and Siri see minor upgrades, Apple has yet to deliver the self-aware, transformative AI experience it promised.
Apple risks falling behind competitors by offering more robust, context-aware AI solutions without significant improvements.
