Apple to add AI tools for photo editing in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27

Apple is preparing a major update to the built-in photo editor on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. According to Bloomberg, the fall releases of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 will include AI tools designed to strengthen Apple Intelligence and narrow the gap with Android competitors.

What will be updated

This is not about a third-party application, but about system image editing features that users use every day directly on their device. Apple wants to significantly expand the built-in set of tools on iPhone, iPad, and Mac by adding artificial intelligence-based capabilities. This approach is important for the company: the more useful AI scenarios that work out of the box, the easier it is to retain users within its own ecosystem and the fewer reasons they have to look for alternatives in applications from third-party developers.

For Apple, it's also a chance to show that Apple Intelligence is not just a set of experimental features for text and assistants, but a practical layer on top of everyday tasks. Photo editing is one of the most understandable mass-market scenarios: users don't need to be explained why they need AI if they can remove an unwanted object, fix a bad shot, or quickly prepare an image for publication with just a couple of taps.

Why Apple is catching up

The bar in mobile photography has been raised by Android manufacturers for quite some time. Google has been promoting AI photo editing for several years: object removal, blur reduction, frame expansion, and other semi-automatic improvements have become a familiar part of the experience on Pixel and throughout the Android ecosystem. Samsung has its own tools for Galaxy smartphones, and for many users, they have long ceased to be a marketing gimmick and have become a real everyday function.

Against this backdrop, Apple appears to be the one playing catch-up. The company is traditionally strong in cameras, image processing, and hardware-software integration, but the built-in generative tools in its photo editor have not been as obvious an advantage until now. That's why new features in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 are important not just as an update to the gallery, but as a signal: Apple can no longer defer AI features in a category where users are already accustomed to instant results.

What functions to expect

Apple is not yet revealing the exact list of capabilities. But if the company truly wants to close the gap with Google and Samsung, users will expect not abstract promises, but a set of understandable tools that save time and don't require separate applications. This is primarily about scenarios that have already become market standards and directly affect image quality after shooting.

• Removing unwanted objects from photos
• Reducing blur and noise
• Expanding the frame beyond the original
• Quick local retouching without manual masking
• Unified tools across iPhone, iPad, and Mac

If Apple implements these scenarios carefully and quickly, not only will the quality of processing improve, but so will the entire logic of the ecosystem. A user will be able to start editing on a smartphone, continue on a tablet, and finish on a Mac without switching to third-party services. This is especially important for the company at a moment when the competition between ecosystems is no longer just about device performance, but also about how intelligent basic everyday functions turn out to be.

What this means

Apple is finally bringing Apple Intelligence to one of the most popular user scenarios — photo editing. If the fall versions of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 truly bring strong built-in AI tools, competition among Apple, Google, and Samsung will shift from the realm of separate flagship features to the everyday experience that users notice after every shot they take.