Apple launches AI photo editing tools with photorealistic generation, shifting away from its earlier stance that photos should capture reality accurately.

At WWDC 2026, Apple announced new AI-powered photo editing tools including an updated Image Playground that can generate images in a photorealistic style, as well as upgraded versions of Clean Up, Extend, and Spatial Reframing for its Photos app.

Images edited with these tools will be embedded with SynthID, Google's watermarking system that tags AI-generated or AI-manipulated content to make it easier to identify as artificially altered. SynthID can be checked by uploading images into Gemini or Google's AI-powered Search chatbot.

This represents a reversal from Apple's earlier position: two years ago, Craig Federighi, Apple's software chief, stated the company wanted to 'purvey accurate information, not fantasy.' Apple previously avoided photorealistic AI generation with Image Playground, focusing instead on cartoon-like styles.