In more ways than one, emojis have become a fundamental medium of social interaction in the modern context, conveying an added layer of meaning beyond mere texts. But what if you can’t find the right emoji to use in a specific context? Well, you could make your own, according to Apple’s latest Genmoji feature, which is due to be launched on iOS 18.
Introduced as part of a slew of new software upgrades that will be dispersed through the next generation of their operating systems, Genmoji is one of many new capabilities made possible through the integration of Apple Intelligence, the Cupertino tech giant’s generative AI system.
Apple Intelligence adds a wealth of new AI-enabled functions to iOS18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia
Dubbed a ‘personal intelligence system’, it will be baked into the foundation of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, harnessing the power of Apple silicon to expedite user interactions across each respective platform. This means that your iPhone, iPad, and Macbook will be capable of generating language or images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks as and when required.
“We’re thrilled to introduce a new chapter in Apple innovation. Apple Intelligence will transform what users can do with our products — and what our products can do for our users,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.
But out of all the possibilities that Apple Intelligence will usher, Genmoji is perhaps the one we expect most users to anticipate for the most. Gone are the days when you needed to download custom emoji packs just to add another facet of self-expression that standard emoji keyboards fail to convey.
Instead, all you’ll have to do is set the scene by describing the emoji you have in mind and let Apple Intelligence handle the rest. In a matter of seconds, you can pick from several custom-generated Genmojis, tailored specifically to fit your requirements. You can even make custom Genmojis based on your photos, or that of loved ones.
Genmoji, Writing Tools, and enhanced features in Note and Phone apps
Beyond Genmoji, users can also expect a completely fresh set of Writing Tools that include Rewrite, Proofread, and Summarize. Rewrite does exactly what it says on the tin: generating AI-rewritten versions of your text, which can be tailored to suit specific tones or social scenarios, such as in cover letters or invitations.
On the other hand, Proofread will screen your grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure to correct any discernible errors, while Summarize can help to distill large bodies of text into a simplified paragraph, list, or table for easy referencing.
Apple Intelligence even extends to your Notifications. The feature is especially convenient for active group chats as it can scan long texts or multiple notifications and summarise key points on your Lock Screen, effectively saving you the need to scroll through missed messages.
As for your Notes and Phone app, they can now record, transcribe, and even summarise audio using Apple Intelligence. If you decide to record a phone conversation for reference, the AI system will summarise the most relevant points on your behalf through an automatically generated report.
Naturally given the amount of personal information that Apple Intelligence will have to access to provide these features, user privacy is paramount. Apple explains that many of the core Apple Intelligence models are reliant upon on-device processing, which is to say that the information is processed locally on your iPhone, iPad, or Macbook, without requiring any external intervention.
But in the case of more resource-intensive requests, Apple’s Private Cloud Compute will ensure seamless integration between the company’s remote servers and personal devices, essentially safeguarding user data between both nodes.
Feature and hero image credit: Apple
Tags
Written by
Benjamin Wong
Senior Editor, Fashion and Dining
Armed with an Advertising major from Lancaster University, Benjamin is a senior editor who has spent his time oscillating between the social media and digital media landscape since 2018. With a keen interest in haute fashion and gastronomy, he has written for publications such as ERROR Digital, WORLD OF BUZZ, and KL Foodie. Beyond the keyboard, you can find him arms-deep in a thrift pile.
