Apple Introduces Genmoji: AI-Powered Custom Emoji Creation

Apple introduces Genmoji's: create personalized emojis with AI

's latest software update, iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, introduces a new feature called Genmoji, enabled by Intelligence. It allows users to create custom emoji tailored to their imagination. Users can describe the emoji they want, for example a "sad cowboy" or an "octopus DJ," and 's AI then generates them. To use Genmoji, users need a compatible device with the latest version of iOS. These include the iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, iPads with the M1 chip or newer and the iPad mini (A17 Pro). Currently, Genmoji creation is limited to iPhones and iPads, but plans to expand this feature to Macs in the future. Using Genmoji's Creating a Genmoji is a simple process. Open a conversation, go to the keyboard and press the smiley or globe icon. Look for the multicolored smiley with a plus sign in the upper-right corner of the keyboard; when you press it, a text bar appears where you can describe the emoji you want. Once you enter your description and press "Done," 's artificial intelligence generates the emoji based on your input. Refining Genmoji's If you want to create Genmojis based on specific people, make sure they are tagged in your Photos application. When describing your emoji, press the "Choose a person" option above the text field. The system will identify recognizable faces in your photos and offer you styling options for the Genmoji's. The results generated do not always match expectations. Users can refine their descriptions to get more satisfactory results. Once created, Genmoji's are accessible within the keyboard by dragging or tapping on the sticker icon. They can also be used as Tapback responses by tapping and holding on a message, then selecting the smiley with a plus sign. Managing Genmoji's If users want to delete a Genmoji, they must return to the emoji keyboard, locate it, press and hold, and then press "Delete" when the option appears.

How to use Genmoji to make your own custom emojis

You can create Genmoji on an iPhone or iPad with Apple Intelligence. With , iPhone and iPad users have access to a slew of new features that make use of Apple Intelligence. That includes Genmoji, a new type of AI-generated emoji that was first Genmoji are custom emojis you can create if you've installed the iOS 18.2 or iPadOS 18.2 update. They are the emojis of your imagination, made real with help from Apple Intelligence -- you describe what emoji you want to see, like a sad cowboy or an octopus DJ, and Apple's AI will do its best to generate it. You can even create custom emojis of people you know if you have a photo of them in your library. Once you've made Genmoji, they'll be stored in your keyboard so you can use them in Apple apps that support emojis. They can be sent as part of messages, as standalone stickers or as Tapback reactions. To create a Genmoji, you'll need a device that is up to date with iOS 18.2/iPadOS 18.2 or later and . That includes every iPhone 16 model, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as iPad models with the M1 chip or later, and iPad mini (A17 Pro). At the moment, you can only create Genmoji on iPhone and iPad, though Apple says the feature will be coming to Mac down the line. The steps to create a Genmoji are the same for iPhone and iPad. First, open a conversation and tap the text field to bring up the keyboard. Then tap either the smiley icon or the globe icon, depending on which you have. After doing that, you should now see a multicolored smiley icon with a plus sign on it at the top right of the keyboard. Tap that and a text bar will appear prompting you to describe the emoji you'd like to create. Enter the description, then tap "Done." If you're making a Genmoji of a specific person, make sure you've already labeled them in your Photos app. Then, enter your description and tap the "Choose a Person" option above the text field. You'll be shown who it has identified from your photos, and a few style options as a starting point. Click the one you like, and it'll create the Genmoji using that character. The results might not be to your liking the first try, and if that's the case, just try tweaking your description until you get better results. Once you've made Genmoji, you'll be able to find them in your keyboard either by swiping right through all the emoji options or by tapping the sticker icon. You can also add them to Tapback by pressing and holding a message, and clicking the smiley with a plus sign icon to search the emoji keyboard. If you made a Genmoji and later decide you aren't into it anymore, you can always delete it after the fact. To do this, head back into the emoji keyboard and either swipe right through all the pages or just tap the sticker icon. From there, find the Genmoji you want to get rid of, press and hold it, then tap Remove once the option pops up.

iOS 18.2: How to create your own custom emoji with Genmoji

Have you ever thought, "why isn't there an emoji for ____?" Well, now there can be! With iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, Apple finally adds image generation capabilities to its Apple Intelligence tools. One of the slickest ways to use the new AI image gen capabilities is to make custom emojis with the new Genmoji feature. All you need is an iPhone or iPad up to date with version 18.2 or later. Here's everything you need to know about the new feature. Genmoji is Apple's name for its built-in AI-powered emoji generator. Some have taken to calling images of themselves made with the Image Playground app "Genmoji," but that's not quite right. Those are not styled like Apple's emojis, are created in a different way, and are not accessible in the standard emoji picker. To create Genmoji, you'll need an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, or a new iPhone 16 with iOS 18.2; or an iPad with an A17 Pro or M-series processor with iPadOS 18.2. Macs running at least macOS 15.1 can use a Genmoji that you created on an iPhone or iPad, but can't yet create new ones. That's another difference between Genmoji and images created with Image Playground. To start making Genmoji, open any app with text input that accepts emojis, such as Messages or Notes. Then launch the emoji picker as you normally would by tapping the smiling emoji in the lower left of the keyboard. Next, tap the Genmoji icon to the right of the search field. Now for the fun part. To make a new Genmoji, simply type what you want your emoji to look like. It's best to keep it simple and avoid all but the broadest action verbs. If there aren't any existing emoji to match your query, you'll see an option to "Create New Emoji" to make one that matches your prompt. You'll see a dreamy soap-bubble blob appear and, after a few seconds, fill in with an image result. And you don't need to be connected to the internet either -- Genmoji even works offline. You'll see a spotlighted emoji in the center of the screen, but that isn't your only option. Swipe left to view other interpretations of your prompt. The AI feature will generate additional images as you keep swiping. Some will be pretty good, others will be far off the mark, but hey you might like them better! Tap the one you like, and it will insert into your text just as any other emoji would. It will also go into the recent emoji section of your emoji picker, so you can use it again next time. You can also access your saved Genmoji from a Mac there, even though you can't create a new one yet.

iOS 18.2: Create Custom Emoji in Messages With Genmoji

In iOS 18.2, which Apple is releasing today, Apple's new Genmoji feature lets you create personalized emoji that aim to perfectly match what you want to express, going far beyond the limitations of standard Unicode emoji. Want an emoji of a break-dancing astronaut or a dog playing bagpipes? With Genmoji, you can make it happen. Unlike standard emoji that are fixed Unicode characters, Genmoji are dynamically generated using on-device AI. They work seamlessly in text, appearing as inline emoji characters in supported apps like Messages and Notes. You can even create Genmoji based on people in your Photos app, making them more personal and expressive. Genmoji is available in the iOS 18.2 update, which Apple is releasing on December 11, 2024. The feature also requires Apple Intelligence, which is limited to iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and iPhone 16 series models. Apple Intelligence does not currently work in the EU. Even with a compatible device in a supported region, you'll need to join a waitlist for Apple Intelligence features like image creation (Settings ➝ Apple Intelligence & Siri). Apple will notify you when access is granted. Note that Apple Intelligence is only available when your iPhone and Siri are set to the same language. While Genmoji work best between iOS 18.2 devices, they're also viewable on devices running iOS/iPadOS 18.1 and later, as well as Macs running macOS Sequoia 15.1 and later. On older Apple devices or Android phones, Genmoji appear as regular images rather than inline emoji characters. Third-party apps need to specifically add Genmoji support to enable creation and proper display of these custom emoji. With Genmoji, emoji finally become as limitless as your imagination. Having said that, Apple does maintain content restrictions similar to Image Playground to keep things appropriate. Regardless, once you start creating custom emoji, you might find standard emoji feeling a bit limited in comparison.

Apple rolls out new 'Genmoji' feature powered by AI

The new feature will be available on models that are iPhone 15 Pro and above. Apple is taking emoji to a whole new level and introducing a new "Genmoji" feature which will let iPhone users create their own emoji using artificial intelligence. The new feature, announced in June as part of a slew of Apple Intelligence and Apple AI features, will be available starting Dec. 11. Unlike other apps that make custom emojis, Apple's "Genmoji" utilizes generative AI to create the new type of emoji. The new feature will be available for iOS 18.2 on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro and above models. It will also be available with iPadOS 18.2 on iPad models with an A17 or M1 chip or later. To use "Genmoji," an iPhone user will need to go to their emoji keyboard and tap on the "Create new emoji" option. Then, the user can type a description of what they want their emoji to be and the custom emoji will be generated. For example, if one types "a cat that's an astronaut," a "Genmoji" of an astronaut cat will be revealed in an instant. A unique feature of "Genmoji" is that a user can custom emoji from photos in their photo library, including photos of themselves, friends or family members. For the "Genmoji" feature, Apple said there would be safety protections against nudity, gore and violence. If someone tries to make a "Genmoji" with any prohibited descriptions, they'll receive a message that says that emoji cannot be made. All "Genmojis" created will also only be created and stored on a local iPhone and doesn't need to be sent to a cloud to be generated, according to Apple.