Apple is concerned AI photo editing will mislead users

Apple has voiced growing concerns over the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on photo editing and the potential erosion of trust in images. During a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi addressed the company’s stance, especially as AI technology becomes more prevalent. Federighi discussed Apple’s approach to AI, specifically how it plans to handle image editing features in its upcoming iOS 18.1 update.

Apple is concerned AI photos may affect trust

Apple’s iOS 18.1, set to release soon, introduces a new feature called “Clean Up.” This tool allows users to remove unwanted objects and people from images. While the feature is less advanced than some competitors’ AI-powered tools, Apple remains cautious about how such technology alters public perception of photos. Federighi emphasized that the company has debated the implications of this feature, reflecting Apple’s concern about AI photos and their impact on authenticity.

In contrast to companies like Google and Samsung, which offer AI tools that can add generated assets to images, Apple’s Clean Up is more restrained. “The demand for people to remove extraneous details without changing the meaning of the photo has been very high,” said Federighi. However, he added that Apple’s approach remains careful to ensure that users don’t rely on AI to create unrealistic content.

Federighi highlighted a deeper issue regarding the public’s trust in images. As Artificial Intelligence tools become more common, concerns are rising about how people perceive edited images. Apple is particularly concerned about AI photos and the possibility of people viewing edited photos as less reliable representations of reality.

Competitors have already released AI tools that can significantly manipulate images. For instance, Google’s Reimagine feature enables users to add objects and even create entirely new scenes with just a text prompt. Apple, however, is taking a different path, focusing on preserving trust in the authenticity of photos.

AI photos’ role in misinformation

Apple has implemented a tagging system to address the potential for misinformation. Photos edited with the Clean Up tool will display the label “Modified with Clean Up,” signaling that the image has been altered. This step provides transparency regarding AI-edited photos and highlights concerns about their potential role in spreading false or misleading content.