Apple’s latest iPhones get the gift of more AI as holiday shopping season heats up [Video]

SAN FRANCISCO – Apple is pumping more artificial intelligence into the latest iPhones during the holiday shopping season with a free software update that includes a feature that enables users to create customized emojis within a matter of seconds.

The Wednesday release of the iPhone’s upgraded operating system, iOS 18.2, extends Apple’s expansion into AI months after rivals such as Samsung and Google began implanting the revolutionary technology on their devices. The update builds upon another one that came out in late October to usher in the AI era for Apple and the iPhone, as well as for the iPad and Mac.

The latest round of AI tricks includes “Genmojis,” Apple’s description for emojis that iPhone users will be able to ask the technology to create and then share. Apple …