Apple is embracing the fantasy of AI photo editing

Apple introduced new AI-powered photo editing tools at WWDC 2026, signaling a shift in its approach to image manipulation. Previously, Apple expressed concerns about generative AI's potential to distort reality, but the company now appears to embrace features that allow users to effortlessly alter images. These new tools, integrated into the Photos app, enable significant modifications, such as removing unwanted objects or changing the background of a photo. For instance, a user can select an object and instruct the AI to remove it, with the software intelligently filling in the background. Similarly, users can change the time of day or season depicted in a photograph, transforming a sunny afternoon scene into a winter evening. The technology behind these features is powered by Apple's custom AI models, designed to process these complex edits directly on the device, ensuring user privacy. This move positions Apple to compete with existing AI photo editing solutions from companies like Adobe, which have already integrated similar generative capabilities into their software. The company highlighted these features as part of its broader AI strategy, aiming to make complex tasks more accessible to everyday users.