Apple’s Image Playground is literally so cringe and awful. pic.twitter.com/U1a2rwRj6t
— Quinn Nelson (@SnazzyLabs) December 12, 2024
Apple’s new Image Playground feature, introduced with iOS 18 and macOS 15, isn’t winning over fans. The AI-powered tool, designed to generate images based on user inputs, has been widely criticized for its cartoonish style, lack of realism, and limited usefulness. Many users have taken to Reddit, X, and MacRumors to voice their frustration, with some calling it “terrible” and others dismissing it as a waste of time.
What is Image Playground?
Unveiled earlier this year as part of Apple Intelligence, Image Playground allows users to upload an image, type in descriptive prompts, and generate AI-crafted visuals. Unlike other popular AI art generators like MidJourney or DALL-E, Apple’s offering focuses on animated and cartoon-style results rather than photorealistic outputs. According to reports, this approach was likely intentional to avoid the ethical issues surrounding hyper-realistic AI images, but the decision hasn’t resonated with users.
One user on Reddit bluntly stated: “It’s bad ugly art. In what context is anyone besides maybe a distant aunt on Facebook using this?” Others echoed this sentiment, pointing out that the feature feels outdated. “It’s like AI from 2014,” wrote a commenter on MacRumors.
Why the backlash?
Many feel Apple’s Image Playground fails to meet the bar set by competing tools. A lot of users say the feature is underwhelming and feels like a half-hearted attempt to enter the AI image generation space. “Apple should have released something more like MidJourney,” one MacRumors user suggested. Another chimed in, “Yeah, no — it is a toy.”
Quinn Nelson from Snazzy Labs didn’t hold back, posting the following on X:
One of the biggest criticisms of Image Playground is its reliance on a cartoon-only style. While competing AI tools generate realistic, high-quality visuals, Apple’s app sticks to exaggerated 3D animation and cartoonish designs. Many users find this limiting, especially when they expect more from a company like Apple.
Another common complaint is the app’s lack of creativity. Despite using varied prompts, users often report getting repetitive and uninspired results. A commenter on MacRumors bluntly remarked that the app is “worth about two minutes of toying around and not much more.”
The app’s practicality is also being questioned. Many argue that Image Playground doesn’t solve any meaningful problem, making it feel more like a novelty than a useful tool. One X user described it as “possibly the lamest thing I’ve ever seen on an iPhone.”
Some defend Apple
Not everyone is entirely against Image Playground. A handful of users have acknowledged that it was likely designed for casual, fun use rather than professional-grade AI image generation. A commenter noted that it might appeal to kids or younger audiences looking for personalized profile pictures or playful creations.
“I made some funny ones for all my nieces and nephews. They liked it. But yeah it’s pretty meh. Genmoji is fun tho,” said one Reddit user, referencing Apple’s animated emoji feature.
Final thoughts
With the rollout of iOS 18.2, Apple might face pressure to improve Image Playground or clarify its intended use. We’ll have to wait and see how Apple improves its AI image generation with the following iOS updates. In case you’re wondering what’s the next best alternative, I’d vouch for Grok.
Yes, you read that right! Elon Musk recently shared that Grok is now free to use for everyone on the platform. Thanks to Grok’s slightly unhinged image generation capabilities, you’ll end up with a lot more realistic images and better prompt following. It’s not just me either. Even the folks at Tom’s Guide were impressed with Grok’s capabilities.
For now, it’s another addition to the growing list of Apple features that users see as half-baked, alongside critiques of Siri’s limitations and Apple’s slow progress in the AI space.