iOS 26 is finally here, and your iPhone software just got a gorgeous redesign.
While the headline feature will be Liquid Glass, installing iOS 26 will also give you access to some new Apple Intelligence features that might improve your life in subtle, yet meaningful, ways.
I’ve whittled down the list of new AI-powered features available in iOS 26 (and iPadOS 26) and selected my five favorites. From in-app translation to new Apple Intelligence abilities in Shortcuts, there are plenty of reasons to install the new update right away, rather than wait for the iPhone 17 to launch later this week.
1. Live Translation
After using iOS 26 for a few months, I’ve found Live Translation to be my personal favorite new Apple Intelligence feature.
Built into Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app, Live Translation lets you automatically translate messages, add translated live captions to FaceTime, and, on a phone call, the translation will be spoken aloud throughout the conversation, completely removing language barriers using AI.
I’ve written about how Live Translation has drastically improved my ability to communicate with my Italian in-laws, and trust me, if you regularly speak multiple languages, you’ll also find this new Apple Intelligence feature to be a game-changer.
2. Genmoji and Image Playground upgrades
Apple launched Genmoji and Image Playground as part of the first wave of Apple Intelligence features, and now the company has improved its generative AI image tools.
Users can now turn text descriptions into emojis as well as mix emojis and combine them with descriptions to create something new. You can also change expressions and adjust personal attributes of Genmojis made from photos of friends and family members.
Image Playground has also been given ChatGPT support to allow users to access brand-new styles such as oil painting and vector art. Apple says, “users are always in control, and nothing is shared with ChatGPT without their permission.”
I’ve enjoyed my time using ChatGPT in Image Playground. While it’s still not as good as some of the other best AI image generators out there, it improves the Image Playground experience and is a step in the right direction for Apple’s creative AI tool.
3. Visual Intelligence can now see your screen
Visual Intelligence might’ve already been the best Apple Intelligence feature, but now it’s even better.
In iOS 26, Visual Intelligence can now scan your screen, allowing users to search and take action on anything they’re viewing across apps.
You can ask ChatGPT questions about content on your screen via Apple Intelligence, and this new feature can be accessed by taking a screenshot. When using the same buttons as a screenshot in iOS 26, you are now asked to save, share the screenshot, or explore more with Visual Intelligence. Visual Intelligence can even pull information from a screenshot and add info to your calendar; it’s super useful.
If you’re like me and take screenshots regularly to remember information, Visual Intelligence on iOS 26 could be the Apple Intelligence feature you’ve been waiting for.
4. Third party apps have Apple Intelligence access
While this entry isn’t a feature per se, this iOS 26 addition is a big one for the future of Apple Intelligence: Developers now have access to Apple’s Foundation Models.
What does that mean exactly? Well, app developers can now “build on Apple Intelligence to bring users new experiences that are intelligent, available when they’re offline, and that protect their privacy, using AI inference that is free of cost.”
Apple showcased an example at WWDC 2025 of an education app using the Apple Intelligence model to generate a quiz from your notes, without any API costs.
This framework could completely change the way we, users, interact with our favorite third-party apps, now with the ability to tap into Apple’s AI models and make the user experience even more intuitive.
At the moment, I’ve not seen many apps take advantage of this new feature, but give it a few weeks, and we’ll be sure to list the best examples of Apple Intelligence in third-party applications.
5. AI-powered Shortcuts
Last but not least, Apple Intelligence is now available in the Shortcuts app. This is a major upgrade to one of the best apps on Apple devices, allowing users to “tap into intelligent actions, a whole new set of shortcuts enabled by Apple Intelligence.”
I’ve tried Apple Intelligence-powered shortcuts, and just like the Shortcuts app, the true power here will come down to user creations and how people tap into this new ability. As someone who uses Shortcuts daily, I’m incredibly excited to see how the fantastic community of people who create powerful shortcuts and share them online will tap into Apple Intelligence’s capabilities.
This is not an AI improvement everyone is going to use, but if you choose to delve into the world of the Shortcuts app and learn how to get the most from it, this new iOS 26 addition might be the best of the lot.
Upgrade today
iOS 26 is now available as a free update for iPhone, and while only Apple Intelligence-compatible devices (iPhone 15 Pro and newer) have access to the new AI features, there’s plenty here to be excited for.
Whether you want a fresh coat of paint and a new lock screen redesigned with Liquid Glass, or the idea of Live Translation makes you excited to use your smartphone on vacation, iOS 26 is a huge step forward for iPhone and well worth the upgrade.
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john-anthony.disotto@futurenet.com (John-Anthony Disotto)
