The iOS 26 Messages app is ready to achieve assist for personalized backgrounds for conversations, and it seems that AI can be an possibility for producing completely different appears to be like.
Based on Nicolás Alvarez, iOS 26 code means that customers will be capable of generate backgrounds for the Messages app utilizing text-based descriptions. The characteristic seems to make use of Picture Playground, and there can be Picture Playground fashion choices that embrace Animation, Illustration, and Sketch.
The Messages backgrounds can be customizable on a per-conversation foundation, so iPhone, iPad, and Mac customers will be capable of set a distinct background for every of their message threads. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman beforehand stated that the backgrounds will sync between all contributors in a Messages dialog. So in case you set a selected background for an iMessage chat with a buddy, the buddy will see the identical background.
Different messaging apps like WhatsApp assist customized background choices, so Apple is taking part in catch-up with the brand new Messages app background characteristic.
The Messages app can also be set to achieve assist for polls, automated translation for incoming messages in different languages, and the choice to create Genmoji by combining two current normal emoji. Apple plans to name the Genmoji mixing characteristic “Mixmoji.” With this characteristic, it is possible for you to to mix two emoji comparable to cake and balloons into a brand new emoji that incorporates a cake and a balloon for a celebration.
Apple has different AI options within the works, comparable to an Apple Intelligence-powered model of the Shortcuts app. Apple might name the brand new Shortcuts possibility “Generative Shortcuts,” and it seems it’ll use pure language to assist customers create highly effective multi-step shortcut actions.
iOS 26 and the brand new Messages options can be proven off at WWDC 2025, which is ready to start on Monday, June 9 with a ten:00 a.m. keynote occasion.
