Apple rolled out a bunch of AI features with iOS 26 but kept the spotlight mainly on system updates and a new “Liquid Glass” look. Still, several AI-driven tools landed, from image analysis to live translation.
Visual Intelligence scans your surroundings to identify plants, restaurants, or even clothes. Now it can interact with images on your screen—spot a photo in a social app, and it’ll run searches via Google or ChatGPT right away.
Access Visual Intelligence through Control Center or the customizable Action button. It drops with iOS 26 later this year.
ChatGPT hit Image Playground. Apple’s image generation tool now crafts images in new styles—anime, oil painting, watercolor—and lets you prompt ChatGPT for more artwork.
Workout Buddy talks you through exercises. The AI coach uses text-to-speech to give motivation during runs, highlighting fast miles or heart rates, then recaps stats post-workout.
Apple also launched Live Translation for Messages, FaceTime, and calls. Text and speech are translated in real time. FaceTime shows captions; phone calls get live audio translation.
Two AI call tools showed up: call screening answers unknown numbers in the background so you can hear who’s calling and why. Hold assist detects hold music and lets you disconnect from the call while waiting, alerting you when an agent is ready.
Apple also added poll suggestions within Messages. If your group chat debates where to eat, Apple Intelligence can suggest creating a poll to settle it.
The Shortcuts app boosted AI power too. You can now choose AI models to add features like summarization to your custom shortcuts.
Spotlight got smarter with AI, offering context-aware action suggestions based on what you’re doing on your Mac.
Developers won access to Foundation Models, Apple’s offline AI tech, making it easier to build AI features into third-party apps without needing a constant internet connection.
Biggest downer: Apple’s AI-powered Siri updates are delayed. Craig Federighi said no new Siri features this year—expect them sometime next year.
Craig Federighi stated:
“We won’t have more to share until next year.”
Apple’s AI push stays steady but cautious this cycle, focusing on practical tools over flashy reveals. iOS 26 arrives later in 2025 with these AI features in tow.
