iOS 26 Introduces Smart Screenshot Actions with Visual Intelligence

Apple’s iOS 26 is set to revolutionize how users interact with their devices by introducing an enhanced Visual Intelligence feature that leverages generative AI to make screenshots more than just static images.

Previously, Apple’s Visual Intelligence could identify objects and scenes captured through the camera using Apple Intelligence models. Now, with iOS 26, users can take a screenshot of anything on their screen and immediately perform intelligent actions such as querying ChatGPT for information, adding events to their calendar, or searching for products within their apps.

This feature is integrated directly into the screenshot editing interface, where buttons at the bottom allow users to engage with generative AI-powered options effortlessly. For example, if you see a product on social media, you can screenshot it and instantly search for similar items on platforms like Etsy without leaving the screen.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, emphasized that users can “search and take action across your apps using anything you’re viewing,” highlighting the seamless integration of AI capabilities into everyday device use.

This innovation echoes similar tools like Google’s Circle to Search, which has been available on Android and iOS through Google apps since last year, showing a broader trend toward AI-enhanced visual search and interaction.

Beyond Screenshots: The Bigger Picture at WWDC 2025

The screenshot AI feature is part of a larger wave of updates announced at Apple’s WWDC 2025 event, including the new “Liquid Glass” design system that brings more transparency and fluidity to device displays across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Other highlights include AI-driven live translation features integrated into phones and messaging apps, as well as new emoji creation tools powered by ChatGPT’s image generation models, underscoring Apple’s commitment to embedding AI deeply into user experiences.

What This Means for Users and Developers

For users, this means a more intuitive and efficient way to interact with their devices. Instead of switching between apps or typing queries, they can simply capture what interests them and let AI handle the rest.

For developers and businesses, it opens new opportunities to integrate AI-driven visual intelligence into their apps, creating seamless user journeys that start from a simple screenshot. Imagine retail apps that instantly recognize products or productivity tools that auto-schedule events from captured information.

This feature exemplifies how AI is becoming a natural extension of everyday device use, blending convenience with powerful capabilities.