Apple Introduces New AI Tools to Photos App with iOS 27

With iOS 27, Apple is adding generative AI features to the Photos app, including background extension and reframing. The company aims for these tools to preserve the main subject and maintain the photo's authenticity as much as possible.

Scraper SystemJune 12, 2026, 12:25 PM

Apple Introduces New AI Tools to Photos App with iOS 27

Apple is adding new generative AI tools to the Photos app with iOS 27. Jon McCormack, the head of iPhone camera development, said this move is not about showcasing AI for its own sake but about making photo editing more controlled and user-friendly.

The WWDC presentation highlighted new features including an improved Clean Up tool and two new options called Extend and Spatial Reframe. These tools expand the photo’s surroundings or change the image’s perspective, artificially filling in missing areas.

How the new tools work

Apple’s approach is to design these features to correct composition errors noticed after taking a shot. McCormack explained that the goal is to enable users to make simple edits without needing Photoshop-level skills, giving everyday users powerful flexibility.

The company does not allow unlimited image generation with these tools. The Clean Up tool cannot remove the main subject of a photo, the Extend feature can only be used once per image, and it can expand the image by up to 25%.

It was noted that any artificially generated pixels will only appear in the background, and changing the main subject’s face is not planned. Product manager Della Huff said the models are trained to avoid unnecessary fabrication and to add only details essential for the purpose.

However, in a developer preview test, the Extend feature was seen creating new tables and people who do not exist in real life when expanding a scene with people in the background. Huff explained that the feature tries to match the existing aesthetic; otherwise, the extension could look artificial.

Usage limits in daily life

Apple will impose daily usage limits on these new camera tools but has not disclosed the exact numbers. It was stated that users will need an iCloud subscription to use Extend, Spatial Reframe, and Clean Up features multiple times per day.

Another key theme of this year’s presentation was natural language processing. Examples included freer conversations with Siri, creating events in Calendar, defining commands in the Shortcuts app, and describing extensions in Safari; however, photo editing is not delegated to Siri.

Huff said Siri could assist with minor touch-ups but that open-ended tasks like perspective changes would not provide a good user experience. McCormack added that the main goal of integrating Siri into the camera app is to reduce friction, and the Visual Intelligence function’s camera-centric design fits this area more naturally.

Apple’s approach is deliberately distinct from another AI product, Image Playground. While the Photos app is positioned as a secure space to preserve memories, Image Playground is designed for freer, more creative use.

McCormack emphasized that a photo should represent a genuinely lived moment, and Apple’s goal is to develop tools that maintain the integrity of that moment. The company also plans to add Google DeepMind’s SynthID technology later this year to provide invisible watermarking for edited images.

Apple Introduces New AI Tools to Photos App with iOS 27