During the WWDC 2024 keynote, Apple previewed iOS 18‘s Genmoji, which is part of its Apple Intelligence features that will be released later this year. With this function, iPhone users will use AI to generate new emoji characters based on text input, such as “T-rex wearing a tutu on a surfboard.”
What makes Genmoji in iOS 18 unique is that Apple designed an API to make them work like stickers and Memoji and behave like emojis. With the new NSAdaptiveimageGlyph API, developers can easily integrate Genmoji into their apps.
To ensure users have the best experience possible, Apple is redesigning the emoji keyboard to offer Unicode characters, Memoji, stickers, and Genmoji emojis. According to a developer’s session, Genmoji can be used alongside regular text, and these figures can be used alone, copied, pasted, and sent as stickers. They will even respect line height and text formatting.
Apple says the NSAdaptiveImageGlyphs are powered by a standard image format in a square aspect ratio with multiple resolutions and bolstered by additional metadata such as a globally unique and stable identifier, a content description that can be used for accessibility, and alignment metrics to allow proper layout and placement of images so they can be used with and formatted alongside regular text.
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That said, any app that supports rich text can support Genmoji. Apple says this feature shines with blog titles, messages, and notes. However, the company warns that it may not be appropriate for use with text-only items such as email addresses and phone numbers.
Apple says that Genmoji could be retro-compatible with any rich text view. The image will automatically appear as a standard text attachment with older operating systems or app versions.
How to use Genmoji in iOS 18
Even though iOS 18 is now available, you can’t use Genmoji. As of now, there are a few Apple Intelligence features that can be used as part of the iOS 18.1 beta. However, Genmoji will launch later this year with iOS 18.2 and Image Playground.
That said, once this feature has been released, here’s how to use it:
- On your Keyboard, open the Emoji icon
- Select the Genmoji tab and describe the image
- Once you’re satisfied with what Apple created, you can store it in your library
BGR will update this article once we learn more about this feature and when it starts working for users.
