Brought to you by Incogni, the easiest way to scrub your data from the internet.
Remember when Samsung got into trouble for faking photos of the moon with completely doctored images?
Apple is skirting similar territory with its new AI-powered image tools unveiled this week at WWDC26.
The new Extend and Reframe image tools allow you to expand the frame of a picture or adjust the composition after a shot was taken. But as our tests show, these tools can add details that don’t exist.
One extended photo of a house interior, for example, added architectural details of doors and balconies that are completely hallucinated.
It seems harmless enough, especially as they are background details, but it raises a thorny issue: Is it a photo anymore?
I’d argue that no, it isn’t. The resulting image is no longer a true and accurate representation of reality.
It’s a shame, because Apple is now contributing to the paradox known as the “liar's dividend.”
It’s not just that such images are fake — they make it harder to believe in true photos.
High-quality AI images make you doubt the legitimacy of authentic photographs, ultimately allowing bad actors to dismiss real evidence as fake — the dividend granted to liars.
The worst part — Apple’s new AI image tools work remarkably well!
Also in today’s newsletter:
There’s a waitlist for the new Siri AI — here’s how to get to the head of the queue.
Say what? The newest AirPods Pro just dropped to $179, the lowest price ever! Quite the steal.
Stop your personal data from spreading. Incogni hunts it down and deletes it. Save 55% today with code CULTOFMAC.
I use Apple Pay on my iPhone for just about all my in-person payments these days. These six new upgrades to Apple Wallet look pretty great. Making physical gift cards virtual sounds super-handy.
🔥 DEAL OF THE DAY: I attached a big MagSafe battery to my iPhone the other day, and when I put it in my jeans pocket, the combined weight pulled my pants down to my ankles! It was most embarrassing. You’ll not have that problem with this lightweight battery pack from Baseus, a decent brand, which costs less than $25. #affiliate
If you’ve ever wondered exactly what Edith Piaf is warbling about, a new lyrics translation feature in Apple Music will now tell you. It’s just one of a handful of cool new features. The app looks better than ever, too.
Monitoring energy consumption right in the Home app is just one of several ace new smart home features in iOS 27 — and it’ll allow for some clever new automations.
We got some funny comments on yesterday’s poll about the new betas. See below.
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
A message from Incogni
Data brokers are selling your info right now.
Your personal data is being exposed, bought and sold — and it won’t stop unless you take action.
Incogni aggressively tracks down and removes your information from data brokers and the open web, then keeps scanning to catch new exposures before they spread. With more than 245 million removals, and results independently verified by Deloitte, it’s built for one thing: shutting down your digital footprint, fast.
You get continuous protection, real-time tracking of every removal, identity-theft safeguards, and coverage for your entire family — all working in the background.
Stop leaving your data exposed. Act now and lock it down. Save 55% with code CULTOFMAC.
A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team
A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team
Cult of Mac’s buyback program
Tweets of the day
Wallpaper of the day
One more thing ...
I think aesthetics are a lot like singing. Joanie [Baez] has a beautiful voice, but the reason her voice is beautiful isn't because her voice is just beautiful. It's because she has an incredibly good ear. She can listen to somebody speak for 30 seconds and imitate their voice almost perfectly. Her ear is superb. And I think, in the same way, good aesthetics result from just your eye. An instinct of what you see, not so much what you do.
Today’s poll
Do Apple's new AI photo tools worry you?
Results from yesterday’s poll:
Best reader comments
Subscribe to The Weekender — Get the week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.