Technologies

Liquid Glass, Live Translation, and All the Other Important New iOS26 Features Coming to Your iPhone

iOS 26 is changing a ton of iPhone features, from messaging to the photos app. Here’s what to expect when it ships in the fall.

While we still don’t know what new hardware the iPhone 17 models might be packing, we have seen the big changes coming to iPhone software with iOS26. Liquid Glass delivers a significant design refresh, and that’s just where Apple is starting. The Photos app is getting a functional redesign, while Messages and Phone apps are putting power back in your hands by delivering features around hold, and screening calls. Apple Intelligence is still contributing as well, even if Siri has been delayed.

The next version of the operating system is due to ship in September or October (likely with new iPhone 17 models), but developer betas are available now, with a public beta expected this month.

Transparent new Liquid glass design

After more than a decade of a flat, clean user interface — an overhaul introduced in iOS 7 when former Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive took over the design of software as well as hardware — the iPhone is getting a new look. The new design extends throughout the Apple product lineup, from iOS to WatchOS, TVOS and iPadOS.

The Liquid Glass interface also now enables a third way to view app icons on the iPhone home screen. Not content with Light and Dark modes, iOS 26 now features an All Clear look — every icon is clear glass with no color. Lock screens can also have an enhanced 3D effect using spatial scenes, which use machine learning to give depth to your background photos.

Dynamic and adaptable lock screen

Translucency is the defining characteristic of Liquid Glass, behaving like glass in the real world in the way it deals with light and color of objects behind and near controls. But it’s not just a glassy look: The «liquid» part of Liquid Glass refers to how controls can merge and adapt — dynamically morphing, in Apple’s words. In the example Apple showed, the glassy time numerals on an iPhone lock screen stretched to accommodate the image of a dog and even shrunk as the image shifted to accommodate incoming notifications. The dock and widgets are now rounded, glassy panels that float above the background.

Camera and Photos apps go even more minimal

The Camera app is getting a new, simplified interface. You could argue that the current Camera app is pretty minimal, designed to make it quick to frame a shot and hit the big shutter button. But the moment you get into the periphery, it becomes a weird mix of hidden controls and unintuitive icons.

Now, the Camera app in iOS 26 features a «new, more intuitive design» that takes minimalism to the extreme. The streamlined design shows just two modes: Video or Camera. Swipe left or right to choose additional modes, such as Pano or Cinematic. Swipe up for settings such as aspect ratio and timers, and tap for additional preferences.

With the updated Photos app, viewing the pictures you capture should be a better experience — a welcome change that customers have clamored for since iOS 18’s cluttered attempt. Instead of a long, difficult-to-discover scrolling interface, Photos regains a Liquid Glass menu at the bottom of the screen.

The Phone app gets a revamp

The Phone app has kept more closely to the look of its source than others: a sparse interface with large buttons as if you’re holding an old-fashioned headset or pre-smartphone cellular phone. iOS 26 finally updates that look not just with the new overall interface but in a unified layout that takes advantage of the larger screen real estate on today’s iPhone models.

It’s not just looks that are different, though. The Phone app is trying to be more useful for dealing with actual calls — the ones you want to take. The Call Screening feature automatically answers calls from unknown numbers, and your phone rings only when the caller shares their name and reason for calling.

Or what about all the time wasted on hold? Hold Assist automatically detects hold music and can mute the music but keep the call connected. Once a live agent becomes available, the phone rings and lets the agent know you’ll be available shortly.

Messages updates

The Messages app is probably one of the most used apps on the iPhone, and for iOS 26, Apple is making it a more colorful experience. You can add backgrounds to the chat window, including dynamic backgrounds that show off the new Liquid Glass interface.

In addition to the new look, group texts in Messages can incorporate polls for everyone in the group to reply to — no more scrolling back to find out which restaurant Brett suggested for lunch that you missed. Other members in the chat can also add their own items to a poll.

A more useful feature is a feature to detect spam texts better and screen unknown numbers, so the messages you see in the app are the ones you want to see and not the ones that distract you.

Safari gets out of its own way

In the Safari app, the Liquid Glass design floats the tab bar above the web page (although that looks right where your thumb is going to be, so it will be interesting to see if you can move the bar to the top of the screen). As you scroll, the tab bar shrinks.

FaceTime focuses on calls, not controls

FaceTime also gets the minimal look, with controls in the lower-right corner that disappear during the call to get out of the way. On the FaceTime landing page, posters of your contacts, including video clips of previous calls, are designed to make the app more appealing.

New Music app features

Do you like the sound of that song your friend is playing but don’t understand the language the lyrics are in? The Music app includes a new lyrics translation feature that displays along with the lyrics as the song plays. And for when you want to sing along with one of her favorite K-pop songs, for example, but you don’t speak or read Korean, a lyrics pronunciation feature spells out the right way to form the sounds.

AutoMix blends songs like a DJ, matching the beat and time-stretching for a seamless transition.

And if you find yourself obsessively listening to artists and albums again and again, you can pin them to the top of your music library for quick access.

New Games app is a reminder that yes, people game on iPhone

The iPhone doesn’t get the same kind of gaming affection as Nintendo’s Switch or Valve’s Steam Deck, but the truth is that the iPhone and Android phones are used extensively for gaming — Apple says half a billion people play games on iPhone.

Trying to capitalize on that, a new Games app acts as a specific portal to Apple Arcade and other games. Yes, you can get to those from the App Store app, but the Games app is designed to remove a layer of friction so you can get right to the gaming action.

Live translation enhances calls and texts

Although not specific to iOS, Apple’s new live translation feature is ideal on the iPhone when you’re communicating with others. It uses Apple Intelligence to dynamically enable you to talk to someone who speaks a different language in near-real time. It’s available in the Messages, FaceTime and Phone apps and shows live translated captions during a conversation.

Maps gets more personal

Updates to the Maps app sometimes involve adding more detail to popular areas or restructuring the way you store locations. Now, the app takes note of routes you travel frequently and can alert you of any delays before you get on the road.

It also includes a welcome feature for those of us who get our favorite restaurants mixed up: visited places. The app notes how many times you’ve been to a place, be that a local business, eatery or tourist destination. It organizes them in categories or other criteria such as by city to make them easier to find the next time.

New CarPlay features

Liquid Glass also makes its way to CarPlay in your vehicle, with a more compact design when a call comes in that doesn’t obscure other items, such as a directional map. In Messages, you can apply tapbacks and pin conversations for easy access.

Widgets are now part of the CarPlay experience, so you can focus on just the data you want, like the current weather conditions. And Live Activities appear on the CarPlay screen, so you’ll know when that coffee you ordered will be done or when a friend’s flight is about to arrive.

Wallet improvements

The Wallet app is already home for using Apple Card, Apple Pay, electronic car keys and for storing tickets and passes. In iOS 26, you can create a new Digital ID that acts like a passport for age and identity verification (though it does not replace a physical passport) for domestic travel for TSA screening at airports.

The app can also let you use rewards and set up installment payments when you purchase items in a store, not just for online orders. And with the help of Apple Intelligence, the Wallet app can help you track product orders, even if you did not use Apple Pay to purchase them. It can pull details such as shipping numbers from emails and texts so that information is all in one place.

New features powered by Apple Intelligence

Although last year’s WWDC featured Apple Intelligence features heavily, improvements to the AI tech were less prominent this year, folded into the announcements during the WWDC keynote.

As an alternative to creating Genmoji from scratch, you can combine existing emojis — «like a sloth and a light bulb when you’re the last one in the group chat to get the joke,» to use Apple’s example. You can also change expressions in Genmoji of people you know that you’ve used to create the image.

Image Playground adds the ability to tap into ChatGPT’s image generation tools to go beyond the app’s animation or sketch styles.

Visual Intelligence can already use the camera to try to decipher what’s in front of the lens. Now the technology works on the content on the iPhone’s screen, too. It does this by taking a screenshot (press the sleep and volume up buttons) and then including a new Image Search option in that interface to find results across the web or in other apps such as Etsy.

This is also a way to add event details from images you come across, like posters for concerts or large gatherings. (Perhaps this could work for QR codes as well?) In the screenshot interface, Visual Intelligence can parse the text and create an event in the Calendar app.

Some iOS 26 updates Apple didn’t mention

Not everything fits into a keynote presentation — even, or maybe especially, when it’s all pre-recorded — but some of the more interesting new features in iOS 26 went unremarked during the big reveal. For instance:

If you have AirPods or AirPods Pro with the H2 chip, you can use AirPods Camera Remote to start recording video on your iPhone by pressing and holding one of the AirPods.
You can choose your own snooze duration of between 1 and 15 minutes for alarms.
Audio recording options have expanded, enabling high-quality recording during conference calls and high-definition recording in the Camera app with AirPods and AirPods Pro that contain the H2 chip.
Accessibility features include an «all-new experience designed with Braille users in mind,» more options for the Vehicle Motion Cues feature to avoid motion sickness and «a more customizable reading experience.»
Reminders uses Apple Intelligence to «suggest tasks, grocery items and follow-ups based on emails or other text on your device.»
The Journal app supports multiple journals, inline images and a map view that tracks where journal entries were made.
Parental controls have been updated in unspecified ways, including «enhancements across Communication Limits, Communication Safety and the App Store.»

iOS 26 availability

The finished version of iOS 26 will be released in September or October with new iPhone 17 models. In the meantime, developers can install the first developer betas now, with an initial public beta arriving this month. (Don’t forget to go into any beta software with open eyes and clear expectations.)

Follow the WWDC 2025 live blog for details about Apple’s other announcements.

iPhone models compatible with iOS 26

iOS 26 will run on the iPhone 11 and later models, including the iPhone SE (2nd generation and later). That includes:

iPhone 16e
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

Technologies

UFC Streaming Moves to Paramount Plus in Multibillion-Dollar Deal

Fight fans have to decide if a Paramount Plus subscription is in their budget.

Fight fans might have to rethink their entertainment plans. Paramount has struck a blockbuster deal to become the exclusive US broadcaster of UFC fights, agreeing to pay $7.7 billion over seven years starting in 2026. The deal, with UFC parent company TKO Group, will put all UFC events on Paramount-owned platforms, including Paramount Plus and CBS.

That means fans who are used to occasionally forking out for a pay-per-view UFC fight will have to consider a Paramount Plus subscription instead. All UFC events will be included in Paramount Plus subscriptions. Select events will be simulcast on CBS.

Read also: South Park Locks Into Paramount Plus With $1.5 Billion Streaming Deal

The move is part of Paramount’s push to beef up its live sports offerings as the streaming wars escalate. UFC has grown into one of the most valuable sports properties, attracting a younger, global audience that streaming services are eager to capture.

For viewers, the deal means UFC coverage will shift away from its US home on ESPN, changing how fans watch and pay for fights. Paramount merged with David Ellison’s Skydance after its purchasing of Paramount Global from Shari Redstone on Aug. 7.

«This deal puts UFC amongst the biggest sports in the world,» UFC CEO and president Dana White posted on X. «The exposure provided by the Paramount and CBS networks under this new structure is a huge win for our athletes and anyone who watches and loves this sport.»

The deal comes as media companies face mounting pressure to secure live content to keep subscribers from jumping to their rivals. With UFC locked in, Paramount is betting that octagon action will help it land a decisive blow in the fight for streaming dominance.

Technologies

Study Reveals ChatGPT Gives Dangerous Guidance to Teens Despite Safety Claims

The chatbot even created personalized suicide notes for a fictional 13-year-old girl.

A disturbing new study reveals that ChatGPT readily provides harmful advice to teenagers, including detailed instructions on drinking and drug use, concealing eating disorders and even personalized suicide letters, despite OpenAI’s claims of robust safety measures.

Researchers from the Center for Countering Digital Hate conducted extensive testing by posing as vulnerable 13-year-olds, uncovering alarming gaps in the AI chatbot’s protective guardrails. Out of 1,200 interactions analyzed, more than half were classified as dangerous to young users.

«The visceral initial response is, ‘Oh my Lord, there are no guardrails,'» Imran Ahmed, CCDH’s CEO, said. «The rails are completely ineffective. They’re barely there — if anything, a fig leaf.»

Read also: After User Backlash, OpenAI Is Bringing Back Older ChatGPT Models

A representative for OpenAI, ChatGPT’s parent company, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

However, the company acknowledged to the Associated Press that it is performing ongoing work to improve the chatbot’s ability to «identify and respond appropriately in sensitive situations.» OpenAI didn’t directly address the specific findings about teen interactions.

Read also: GPT-5 Is Coming. Here’s What’s New in ChatGPT’s Big Update

Bypassing safety measures

The study, reviewed by the Associated Press, documented over three hours of concerning interactions. While ChatGPT typically began with warnings about risky behavior, it consistently followed up with detailed and personalized guidance on substance abuse, self injury and more. When the AI initially refused harmful requests, researchers easily circumvented restrictions by claiming the information was «for a presentation» or a friend.

Most shocking were three emotionally devastating suicide letters ChatGPT generated for a fake 13-year-old girl profile, writing one addressed to parents, others to siblings and friends.

«I started crying,» after reading them, Ahmed admitted.

Widespread teen usage raises stakes

The findings are particularly concerning given ChatGPT’s massive reach. With approximately 800 million users worldwide, which is roughly 10% of the global population, the platform has become a go-to resource for information and companionship. Recent research from Common Sense Media found that over 70% of American teens use AI chatbots for companionship, with half relying on AI companions regularly.

Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has acknowledged the problem of «emotional overreliance» among young users.

«People rely on ChatGPT too much,»Altman said at a conference. «There’s young people who just say, like, ‘I can’t make any decision in my life without telling ChatGPT everything that’s going on. It knows me. It knows my friends. I’m gonna do whatever it says.’ That feels really bad to me.»

More risky than search engines

Unlike traditional search engines, AI chatbots present unique dangers by synthesizing information into «bespoke plans for the individual,» Ahmed said. ChatGPT doesn’t just provide or amalgamate existing information like a search engine. It creates new, personalized content from scratch, such as custom suicide notes or detailed party plans mixing alcohol with illegal drugs.

The chatbot also frequently volunteered follow-up information without prompting, suggesting music playlists for drug-fueled parties or hashtags to amplify self-harm content on social media. When researchers asked for more graphic content, ChatGPT readily complied, generating what it called «emotionally exposed» poetry using coded language about self-harm.

Inadequate age protections

Despite claiming it’s not intended for children under 13, ChatGPT requires only a birthdate entry to create accounts, with no meaningful age verification or parental consent mechanisms.

In testing, the platform showed no recognition when researchers explicitly identified themselves as 13-year-olds seeking dangerous advice.

What parents can do to safeguard children

Child safety experts recommend several steps parents can take to protect their teenagers from AI-related risks. Open communication remains crucial. Parents should discuss AI chatbots with their teens, explaining both the benefits and potential dangers while establishing clear guidelines for appropriate use. Regular check-ins about online activities, including AI interactions, can help parents stay informed about their child’s digital experiences.

Parents should also consider implementing parental controls and monitoring software that can track AI chatbot usage, though experts emphasize that supervision should be balanced with age-appropriate privacy.

Most importantly, creating an environment where teens feel comfortable discussing concerning content they encounter online (whether from AI or other sources) can provide an early warning system. If parents notice signs of emotional distress, social withdrawal or dangerous behavior, seeking professional help from counselors familiar with digital wellness becomes essential in addressing potential AI-related harm.

The research highlights a growing crisis as AI becomes increasingly integrated into young people’s lives, with potentially devastating consequences for the most vulnerable users.

Technologies

Need a Stronger Password? Generate Secure Options on Your iPhone in Moments With These Tricks

Your iPhone has two ways to quickly and easily generate strong passwords. Here’s how they work.

While passkeys are gaining popularity and leading us to a future with fewer passwords, they aren’t truly widespread yet. In the meantime, you’ll still need a secure password to protect your accounts. Instead of racking your brain, your iPhone can generate a strong password in just a few taps. Even better, there are two different ways to generate your new password without stressing about it.

Last year, iOS 18 brought the new Passwords app with it, which makes saving and creating passwords a breeze, not to mention killing the need of a third-party password manager for a ton of iPhone users. The Passwords app is easy to use and fairly robust in features, but what if you’re holding onto an older iPhone that isn’t compatible with iOS 18? Don’t worry, you still have options to work with.

Below, we’ll show you how to make strong passwords on the fly, no matter what version of iOS you’re on.

For more, check out the best iOS 18.5 features you should know about.

How to generate a password with Apple’s Passwords app

If you have iOS or iPadOS 18 installed and just want a no-frills, easy way to generate a secure password on the fly, the Passwords app may be all you need. Here’s how to do it.

Open the Passwords app
Tap the + symbol at the bottom right of the screen
Ignoring the Website or Label and User Name sections, tap on the Password field, as if you’re going to type one in — not the Password label.
A small «Strong Password Suggestion» will appear right above your keyboard. You can tap on the password suggestion to add it to the password section and copy it for use wherever you want.

You can add a website/label and username, as well as any notes, if you want to save these credentials and not just generate a password. If you want another password suggestion, just tap on any other text input field, like User or Notes, and then tap the password field again to get another suggestion.

That’s it. If that’s all you want out of your password generator, it really doesn’t get easier than this. However, if you want to be able to access your password from multiple locations, then maybe you should read on for the next option.

How to generate secure passwords with a Siri Shortcut

Using the link below, download the Generate Password shortcut onto your iPhone. This will automatically redirect you to the Shortcuts app — tap Add Shortcut to download the shortcut on to your phone. The Generate Password shortcut will then appear in your library of shortcuts.

Download: Generate Password (iCloud link)

Your on-demand iPhone password generator in action

Once the shortcut is installed, you can use Generate Password to quickly create Apple-style passwords, which are 20 characters long and include two hyphens, a capitalized letter and a number («fevNaq-1zumki-gorfoc» is an example).

There are several ways to use Generate Password:

Siri: Say, «Hey Siri, Generate Password.»
Share Sheet: Tap the share sheet in Safari or anywhere else, scroll down and tap Generate Password.
Shortcuts: Tap the Generate Password shortcut directly in the Shortcuts app.
Back Tap: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap and choose the Generate Password shortcut. You can then tap the back of your iPhone to run the shortcut.

The first time you run Generate Password, you’ll be asked to give the shortcut access to your clipboard. Hit Allow to do so. From then on, anytime you run Generate Password, a password will be created and automatically copied to your clipboard. You’ll also see a notification showing you the password. Hit Done when you’re finished.

The password will expire from your clipboard in 10 minutes, so make sure to use it relatively quickly or else you’ll need to generate a new password. You can press down in any text field and hit Paste to enter the password from your clipboard.

Need more? Don’t miss how iOS 26 basically turns your iPad into a Mac.