The one AI feature Apple does better than ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot – How-To Geek
Nathaniel Pangaro is a tech enthusiast who dives deep into Apple’s world, from Macs and iPads to iPhones, Apple Watches, and every gadget in between. He loves turning tricky tech features into guides and reviews that are actually fun to read—and easy to use.
At AppleInsider, he broke down the latest Apple releases with hands-on testing, clear explanations, and visuals that make readers feel like they’re right there with him. He also keeps SEO in mind so people can actually find his work online.
He’s also written for The Student Loan Help Group, turning tech and finance topics into simple, helpful, and engaging content. Nathaniel also takes photos and creates rendered visuals to showcase devices and highlight features.
When he’s not writing, Pangaro enjoys listening to music, working out, baking, and spending time with his pets. These hobbies help him recharge and bring a fresh, creative perspective to his work, keeping his writing energetic and relatable.
Pangaro’s goal is simple: help readers get the most from their Apple devices and actually enjoy doing it.
As more AI (artificial intelligence) technologies emerge, competition among them will intensify, and rankings of the best to worst may shift. Currently, the most significant AI models are Google Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot, OpenAI ChatGPT, and Apple Intelligence.
Apple’s version is generally seen as the weakest link, but for image creation, I believe it is the best tool. While this may be an unpopular opinion, I’ve got some good reasons.
One of the reasons I prefer using Image Playground over other AI tools is that it is already integrated into the areas I would need it for. These areas, just to name a few, include its standalone app, the Apple Invites app, and the Messages app.
Because of this, I don’t need to switch between apps to add a created image to a text conversation or use it as the featured image on a digital invitation. Images made in the standalone app also save to my photo library and the app’s gallery, where they can be further edited later.
Since the application is built into your device, leverages its internals, and is optimized for the operating system, it runs more smoothly and responds quickly to prompts. When I want to create an image of a snowman on a beach in the summertime—for instance—I can get it pretty quickly, with multiple options, not long after the original image is made.
For fast-paced conversations with friends, I sometimes need an image created quickly without having to wait, or adding it will become irrelevant. In the Messages app, with Image Playground, I can tap the plus icon, select Image Playground, and craft my image; no app switching is needed, and the results are fast.
When using other AI tools, like ChatGPT or Copilot, generating images takes a much longer time than Apple Intelligence does. With ChatGPT, it may take a while to produce a single image, and if you don’t like it, you’ll have to wait again for revisions. Copilot offers one-to-four options, but, like ChatGPT, it takes time to generate them, and any requested changes require another wait before the updated images appear.
Having an image-creation tool built for the device I’m using, leveraging its full capabilities, makes a noticeable difference when creating prompts and providing feedback on what’s produced. In a fast-paced world, everyone wants results quickly, and among the tools I’ve used, Image Playground has been the fastest.
While all AI tools I’ve mentioned so far are free to use, Apple Intelligence is the only one that doesn’t have a limit on how many inquiries you can input before being hit with a paywall message. ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot all offer free plans that can generate images, but you are limited to the number you can generate.
The limits aren’t too restrictive for each engine, however. I was able to create various images, or give multiple edits to the creation it outputted, before hitting the limit and being told I’d need to pay or wait before generating more.
OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft all offer paid versions at $20 per month, but you are still limited to the number of images you can generate within a given timeframe. Copilot, however, does offer a Microsoft 365 Copilot version that lets you create unlimited images, but it costs $30 a month with an annual commitment.
On the flip side, Image Playground lets you create as many images as you want without being limited or blocked by a paywall. All features are available to use and generate at the same speed, no matter how many came before it.
Before Image Playground, I would use one AI engine—like Copilot—to create an image I had in mind, but once I hit my limit, I would switch to another—like ChatGPT—and repeat the cycle. After a while, this would get too tiring, and I ended up losing interest in creating the image entirely.
Now I use Image Playground exclusively for my image creation, mainly because there are no limits. I don’t have to worry about how many prompts I have left before getting cut off, and that peace of mind is a big reason I keep coming back.
In today’s world, privacy matters, so knowing where my information goes, who can access it, and how it’s used is essential when using AI engines. When it comes to privacy, Apple Intelligence stands out because all queries, prompts, and information stay on the device.
For requests that require larger models, they turn to Private Cloud Compute, which never shares your information with Apple or third parties.
Furthermore, other popular AI tools run primarily in the cloud, which doesn’t necessarily make them less secure, but it does complicate data handling compared to running them on the device. Unlike Apple, these engines also store my data by default, which, while intended to provide a more personalized experience, isn’t always what I want.
You can see how Apple Intelligence keeps you in control of your data and information with Image Playground. While the app has its own tools, it lets you change an image’s style using ChatGPT only after you grant permission. This extra step ensures you remain in control and decide when it’s okay to share your information with additional parties.
While funny image requests, like a turtle wearing a top hat, don’t worry me as much when it comes to sharing or storing them, it does when I’m using actual images of people. For example, when I want to create images of my mother, friends, or even myself, I’d like them not to be stored and, personally, feel more comfortable knowing the information stays on my device.
I consider images of people to be sensitive information, and keeping them protected—even when using them for humorous photos—is still essential.
Personally, I trust Image Playground with Apple Intelligence the most. With its on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute protocol for larger requests, I feel more comfortable sharing my photos.
Image Playground and Apple Intelligence are far from perfect. Unlike other AI engines, you need a compatible device running the newest operating system to use its features. Still, when it comes to image creation, I choose Image Playground. Its integration across my device and apps, the security it provides for my data, and the lack of usage limits make it my go-to tool.
I do use other AI engines when I need to expand an image or sharpen a blurry one, since Image Playground can’t do that yet. But for creating images, Apple Intelligence remains my top choice, and with its improvements in iOS 26, I keep coming back.
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