Image Playground

(Figure 1.1)

Image Playground

    A few months ago, Apple released an update that integrated new AI features into their Mac operating system and a few new applications for users to try. Among the applications that came with the update is an image creator called Image Playground. It’s simple to use. All users need to do is type what they want, and Image Creator does the rest. I’ve used it to create graphics for PowerPoint slides in the past, but I find it difficult to get simple results. Similarly, most of the results for a prompt rely on the same concept, even after adding more prompts to the image. So, graphics have limited modifiability. On the other hand, the layout and graphics have the iconic Apple feel, which is minimal yet appealing. Overall, Image Playground has a lot of potential, and it’s still in the Beta stage, so we’ll see where Apple takes it in the future.

(Figure 1.2)

  

(Figure 1.3)

Examples of the apps use

    When a user first opens the application, they are faced with the user interface, which features suggestions, a chat box, and the “face” of the AI, prompting its users to “Describe an image or add a suggestion from the list” (Figure 1.1). I told the AI to “design a planet,” and it returned a picture of a gas giant with rings and two orbiting moons (Figure 1.2). The key problem with the picture is that the gas giant is floating on another planet. I attempted to remedy the issue by telling the app to “make the setting outer space.” However, Image Playground created an image of an astronaut peering into another universe from the surface of a planet (Figure 1.3). 

    At this point, it seemed challenging for the application to grasp the concept of space, so I tried one of the pre-made suggestions. A “space” tab was in the suggestion box, so I clicked it and finally got the correct image (Figure 1.4). I decided to press my luck and add a ship, but all the results revealed a rocket that was taking off from the surface of a planet. I ended my review after realizing I wasn’t getting any further with my design.

Recommendations

    Image Playground can potentially be the top image creator for Apple fans. However, if that is going to be the case, Apple has a lot of work to do on the product. My first suggestion is to train the AI to be more creative. Currently, the app creates one image and makes simple adjustments to the positioning, even when adding more prompts. Each image the app makes should be unique. Secondly, the app needs a way for users to edit their designs. After Image Creator makes an image, users can add another prompt, but not much else. It’s not useful for users who only want AI’s assistance. There should be another window for users to customize their designs. Lastly, there should be a tab to give feedback. The app has two widows, the gallery and the studio. Apple should know that it’s challenging for its app to depict outer space. This feedback tab would be instrumental in gathering user insights to improve these aspects.

(Figure 1.4)