Apple Developers Face Waitlist for New Image-Creation Tools

Apple has announced that its highly anticipated image-creation tools, part of its Apple Intelligence suite, will soon be available to a select group of developers. Among the tools to be tested are Image Wand, Genmoji, and Image Playground. However, the rollout is being managed through a waitlist, with access only granted to developers as features become ready for testing. Developers have already received access to the first beta of iOS 18.2, but access to the new graphics tools remains restricted. Apple emphasized that developers will be notified individually when they can begin testing.

The waitlist approach is similar to how Apple managed early access to the Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1. However, the beta testing for these earlier features expanded more quickly. This time, Apple is taking a more cautious approach, particularly in light of potential AI-related issues like “hallucinations” that have been observed in other artificial intelligence models.

The new features include:

• The Image Playground app
• Image Playground integration with Messages and Freeform
• Genmoji, which integrates into the emoji keyboard
• Image Wand, an AI-powered feature for use within the Apple Pencil tool palette in Notes

Apple has not provided specific instructions on how developers can request access to these features. Furthermore, it’s unclear whether developers can express interest in multiple tools at once.

For general users, it is expected that iOS 18.2, including these new graphics tools, will be released by the end of 2024. While public beta access is unlikely before late November, the full release of iOS 18.2 is anticipated in December. Meanwhile, the final release of iOS 18.1, which includes some Apple Intelligence features, is scheduled for late October.

In its communications to developers, Apple noted that they would be able to provide feedback on the new tools by interacting with the thumbs up or thumbs down options available for Image Playground, Genmoji, and Image Wand results.

Apple continues to emphasize its commitment to responsible AI, citing the need for extensive safeguards during the design, model training, and evaluation stages to minimize the potential for misuse or harm. This cautious rollout reflects the company’s efforts to ensure the reliability and safety of its AI-powered features.