Apple Intelligence’s Image Playground, a highly anticipated feature, has finally debuted in the iOS 18.2 developer and public betas. This innovative artificial intelligence tool allows users to transform text descriptions into cartoon-like images. However, in the current beta version, one of the initially announced features of Image Playground is missing.
As highlighted by @nicolas09f9 on X (via MacRumors), Image Playground was originally expected to offer three design styles: Animation, Illustration, and Sketch. Surprisingly, the Sketch style is not available in the beta version.
The description of Image Playground on the App Store preview has been updated to exclude any mention of the Sketch style. Previously, it described the Sketch style as producing “gorgeous drawings on stark backgrounds,” but now only Animation and Illustration styles are mentioned.
Despite the removal of the Sketch style from the preview description, references to it still exist on the App Store and Apple Intelligence preview pages. This discrepancy has led to speculation about the fate of the Sketch option.
Two possible explanations have been proposed for the absence of the Sketch option. It may be excluded from the current beta but could potentially be reintroduced in a future iOS 18.2 beta or later version. Alternatively, Apple might have decided to permanently exclude the Sketch feature.
Having recently tested Image Playground, it is evident that the tool holds promise but requires further development before a public release. Therefore, the absence of the Sketch tool should not be a cause for concern at this stage.
It is speculated that the Sketch tool may be reintroduced in a future iOS 18.2 beta or, at the latest, in iOS 18.3. It is unlikely that Apple would completely abandon this feature.
Image Playground is expected to launch for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with certain components possibly becoming available to the general public next month.
