Playground AI App Autoinstalled, Ignored Setting and Also Added to Home Screen

Lady-Vi wrote:

@lobsterghost1

Apple made a corporate decision to install and turn on by default Apple AI and associated apps beginning with iOS 18.3. This bloats OS system storage on devices and requires multiple steps to disable and even if disabled, still bloats system storage. I followed your link. There is no option to provide feedback on iOS, only individual apps. AI is a resource hog and Apple should not require its installation as part of the OS. AI is also environmentally awful as the computing power needed to support it is huge.

This link will let you provide feedback to Apple --> Product Feedback - Apple

Choose whatever device you'd like to comment on.

As to your other points, arguing them with me or anyone else makes no difference here. Does Apple Intelligence take up space on your iPhone? Yes. Do you have to use it? No. That is all anyone here can offer you. We aren't apple. We don't own iOS, iPadOS or MacOS. Apple does and Apple can do what they want with their operating system. If this isn't acceptable to you, you can always buy other products. But then they too have operating systems you can't control or delete certain features from, so I'm not sure what that would accomplish.

frankmcgrady wrote:

However, the app icon was added to my Home Screen despite having set new apps only appear in the App Library.

That setting only applies to apps you select and download from the App Store. It doesn't apply to new parts of iOS.

Ssnellenberger88 wrote:

I don’t think you are overreacting. If I want an app, I’ll download it. I don’t like the idea of them adding apps or enabling features without my permission.

Feel free to share your thoughts with Apple here --> Product Feedback - Apple

There are a lot of apps, and features built into MacOS you cannot remove. And honestly, not being rude here, but Apple doesn't need your permission to add things to MacOS. You as the user can simply choose to not use them. That's how software works and has always worked, regardless if it comes from Apple, Microsoft, Google or anyone else.

A final note. Image Playground CAN be deleted from iPhone/iPad. It cannot be deleted from Mac/Macbook.

The Settings > Home Screen & App Library that directs new apps to the App Library only applies to apps you download from the App Store, not necessarily to system apps or features introduced by an iOS update.

Dru3 wrote:

I’ve just found the app installed too! I don’t want unnecessary apps especially not AI .. There was no warning whatsoever about adding anything. Apple should give people the option to add apps rather than forcing them onto iPhones.. bad show

You don't own iOS. Apple does. You merely have a license to use iOS. And Apple doesn't need to warn you, nor ask for your permission to add anything they want to iOS.

If you want to tell Apple what you think they should do, you are welcome to provide feedback to them here --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

Overreacting? Yes. Did iOS 18.3 install Apple Intelligence on your iPhone? Yes. Do you have to keep it? No. If you don't want Apple Intelligence on your iPhone, turn it of in Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri. Going forward, Apple Intelligence is part of iOS for eligible devices. It's Apple's software, not ours. We only have a license to use the software on our phones.

Are you overreacting? Yes. Absolutely. You are overreacting.

Remove it form the Home Screen if you don't want it there.

SoMDRedinPA wrote:

It still doesn’t sit right with me and many others! My app had a photo of a kitty on it and they called it “Playground” for crying out loud! What was I supposed to think this was?? I immediately deleted it before my wife could see it as I thought it was some weird adult website trying to trick me into something. It could have started a huge argument. Not cool Apple!

Then complain to Apple. Complaining here is only complaining to other users, none of whom had anything to do with Apple adding Image Playground to your phone. Apple has every right to add new applications to the operating system and even automatically install them on your phone. As you've learned, if you don't want it, simply delete it and move on with your day.

And when you ask what you were supposed to think it was, demonstrates you didn't read the release notes, which were published on the update page, and you could have easily read what it was. That's something you should get in the habit of doing when you download an update. It's not Apple's fault you didn't read them.

Feedback to Apple goes here --> Product Feedback - Apple

Just use this link, which WILL be read by Apple --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

@lobsterghost1

Apple made a corporate decision to install and turn on by default Apple AI and associated apps beginning with iOS 18.3. This bloats OS system storage on devices and requires multiple steps to disable and even if disabled, still bloats system storage. I followed your link. There is no option to provide feedback on iOS, only individual apps. AI is a resource hog and Apple should not require its installation as part of the OS. AI is also environmentally awful as the computing power needed to support it is huge.

I’m so mad about this. It appeared on my daughter’s iPad. We are very careful what they have access to, and the reason I found out about it was that she sent me an ai generated photo of herself.

[Edited by Moderator]

Jaimeleem wrote:

I’m so mad about this. It appeared on my daughter’s iPad. We are very careful what they have access to, and the reason I found out about it was that she sent me an ai generated photo of herself.

Image Playground doesn't generate photos. It only creates cartoon-like pictures. If your daughter is sending AI-generated photos, she's using something else.

Jaimeleem wrote:

Yes it was a cartoon image, generated FROM a photo of her.

Image Playground is about as harmless as it could be. It has so many guardrails. And Apple is not collecting the image. The image is stored on her phone which Apple doesn't have access to. It may be stored in her encrypted iCloud account (if she uses that) which Apple also doesn't have access to. The same is true of any photo she has on her phone (as , presumably, the photo she used to generate the picture is). It's now also on your phone.

There are other options out there, many web-based, that have fewer protection. That's why I asked. If it were me, that's what I'd be concerned about.

It still doesn’t sit right with me and many others! My app had a photo of a kitty on it and they called it “Playground” for crying out loud! What was I supposed to think this was?? I immediately deleted it before my wife could see it as I thought it was some weird adult website trying to trick me into something. It could have started a huge argument. Not cool Apple!

SoMDRedinPA wrote:

It still doesn’t sit right with me and many others! My app had a photo of a kitty on it and they called it “Playground” for crying out loud! What was I supposed to think this was??

Cartoon pictures of cats make you think adult entertainment? Really? That's almost funny.