iOS 26.4 Beta Reveals AI That Creates Apple Music Playlists Based on Your Mood

Apple Inc. has released the first beta of an iOS 26.4 update, revealing new iPhone features such as video podcasts, an Apple Music tool for playlists, and more. The beta release was only made available to developers and came out on Monday, 16 February.

According to MacRumors, iOS 26.4's features include a new Playlist Playground, an update to Apple Music that helps users locate concerts and shows in their area called 'Concerts Near You,' all-new video podcast capabilities, and an on-by-default Stolen Device Protection instead of an opt-in feature. Though the update still lacks the much-anticipated overhauled Gemini-powered Siri, the new AI feature may make up for that.

Below are the new features introduced by the iOS 26.4 update.

Major New Features

Apple Music Updates: The Playlist Playground & Concerts Near You

Apple Music has introduced a new feature called the Playlist Playground in the new iOS 26.4 update, which allows users to create a playlist using text prompts. This means users have the option to type in a playlist name or idea, after which the app will suggest songs to include in the playlist.

The Apple Music app already includes predefined playlists such as 'hip-hop party songs,' disco songs that defined the 1970s,' and 'morning coffee music,' all designed to give users an idea on how playlists can be created.

This highlights AI-automation within the Apple Music app, which, until the update, limited users' playlist creation to a more manual search-and-add approach, which was time-consuming to say the least.

With the Playlist Playground, users can type in their playlist idea which may be based on a mood, and the Playlist Playground will generate a 25-song list instantly. Users can then customise these playlists to make it their own, even adding their own cover and descriptions.

Another Apple Music update is a brand-new feature that lets users find the concerts and events happening near their location. Previously, this feature was only available via Apple's Shazam app.

Apple Podcasts

The new Apple Podcasts feature introduced in iOS 26.4 is the native video podcast support. This feature, powered by HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), allows users to download video podcasts and video-and-audio playback switching, per Yugatech.

In a 9to5 Mac report, Apple's Podcasts app update offers enhanced video podcast features to both listeners and content creators. This update, according to the report, arrives amid Apple's continuous competition with Spotify, Netflix, and YouTube for podcast audiences. The rise of video podcasts call for the seamless transition between audio and video.

On-By-Default Stolen Device Protection

Launched by Apple in 2023, the iOS feature named Stolen Device Protection became an integral feature among iPhone users to prevent theft. But there was one caveat: users needed to turn this feature on. It was optional and included inconvenient restrictions to users.

In the new iOS update, however, Apple has made Stolen Device Protection enabled by default for every iPhone user. This feature protects iPhones from theft not only of the device itself, but also passwords, bank details, and other sensitive data.

The app requires Face ID authentication across the Apple ecosystem, including Find My, Passwords, Safari, etc. Before the update, the Stolen Device Protection app needed manual enabling via the Face ID and Passcode settings, per MacRumors.

End-to-End Messaging RCS Encryption

Across iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and macOS Tahoe 26.4 is Apple's new end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages. To implement this, Apple worked with GSM Association to ensure iPhone and Android or Android to iPhone messages are as secure as iPhone to iPhone communications via iMessage, which have always supported E2EE.

Other new features from the new iOS 26.4 update are a new Ambient Music widget from both Home and Lock Screen, a redesigned Apple Watch Face gallery and wallpaper gallery for the iPhone, a new smart list in reminders, a new App store navigation update, and more. New iMessage animations are reportedly also available.