Last year, Apple released Image Playground with the aim of providing users with a fast and convenient experience for creating personalized original images. However, after its release, the app was widely criticized by many users who expressed disappointment with its limitations and poor-quality generation results. For example, a Reddit user pointed out that Image Playground always generates images of "close-up hands" with six fingers, and it can't even accurately generate simple descriptions like "elderly person" or "flower." This has led some to question its significance in the field of AI image generation, believing it appears overly immature compared to other popular AI image generators.
However, at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple announced that it would enhance Image Playground by integrating ChatGPT. This move aims to significantly improve its AI image generation service. The integration will provide users with richer and more advanced image generation styles, moving beyond the previous limitations of animations, illustrations, sketches, and Genmojis. New image styles will include oil paintings, watercolors, vector graphics, anime, and prints, along with an added "any style" option that allows users to precisely describe and generate images in their desired style. These new styles will be displayed under the "ChatGPT Style" banner.
Apple stated that Image Playground will generate images by sending user descriptions to ChatGPT and emphasized that no information will be shared with ChatGPT without user permission. This not only provides Image Playground with an opportunity to reshape the user experience but also positions its AI image creation tool as a more comprehensive competitor to other free similar apps.
It is worth noting that Apple's use of OpenAI tools is not unprecedented. Last year, Apple announced the integration of ChatGPT into Siri and other first-party apps and features within its operating system. When Siri cannot answer questions on its own or when users explicitly request it, Siri will utilize ChatGPT.
In addition, ChatGPT has been integrated into system-level tools such as writing tools, allowing users to generate, rewrite, and summarize text in applications like Notes and Mail. Through this deep integration with ChatGPT, Apple is committed to building a smarter, faster, and more interconnected ecosystem, enabling users to experience strategic planning, seminars, and meaningful exchanges from top tech companies.
