Apple is reworking its AI image creation app, Image Playground, by incorporating ChatGPT's capabilities in a bid to raise the tool’s quality and usefulness. This move follows mixed reactions from users who found the original version too limited and its outputs lacking the polish seen in competing AI tools.
Initially launched in 2024 as part of Apple’s broader Apple Intelligence initiative, Image Playground allowed users to create original, personalized images using AI. However, early adopters criticized the app for basic shortcomings—such as generating distorted images or failing to respond to simple prompts like “old man” or “flower.” Many compared it unfavorably to established tools like Midjourney, DALL·E, or Adobe Firefly, citing its limited styles and juvenile image quality.
Apple is now aiming to change that narrative by integrating OpenAI’s ChatGPT into Image Playground, a strategic move unveiled during WWDC 2025. This enhancement is expected to significantly improve image quality, creativity, and versatility.
Key Features of the Update
With the ChatGPT integration, Image Playground users will gain access to five advanced artistic styles:
- Oil Painting
- Watercolor
- Vector
- Anime
A new “Any Style” feature also allows users to describe precisely what they want, letting the model interpret and generate accordingly—something that wasn't possible with the earlier version. These new options will be grouped under a “ChatGPT Style” banner, clearly separating them from the original styles: Animation, Illustration, Sketch, and Genmoji.
Apple emphasized that user prompts and data will only be shared with ChatGPT after receiving user consent, maintaining a strong focus on privacy—a hallmark of the company's approach to AI integration.
Broader ChatGPT Integration in Apple Ecosystem
This update follows Apple's broader partnership with OpenAI. In 2024, Apple began integrating ChatGPT across its ecosystem, starting with Siri and core apps like Notes, Mail, and Safari. Siri now intelligently hands off queries to ChatGPT when needed, improving responses in areas like creative writing, summarization, and problem-solving.
By further embedding ChatGPT into Image Playground, Apple hopes to attract a broader user base, including digital artists, content creators, and casual users looking for high-quality, AI-generated artwork.
Strategic Positioning Ahead of iOS 26
The revamped Image Playground is slated to roll out with the release of iOS 26 this fall. The update is part of Apple’s larger vision to strengthen its AI offerings in the face of growing competition from Google, Microsoft, and Meta, all of whom are investing heavily in multimodal generative AI experiences.
With this upgrade, Apple is positioning Image Playground not just as a fun tool, but as a practical and creative utility that aligns with professional-grade AI capabilities, while keeping ease-of-use and user privacy at its core.
