Personalization really feels like the missing link here. The images it creates are highly contextual, which increases their value dramatically. Nobody on Reddit wants to see the AI generated T. rex with a tutu on a surfboard, but in a group chat where your dancer buddy Rex is learning to surf, it’s a killer. The image AI can even use photos to learn who a person is. That opens up a ton of cool ways to communicate with friends

It's what i expected they weren't going to open the pandoras box of realistic photogen on imessage lol, thats why the limit to illustration, cartoon etc, is there to limit the liability of it going wild, they can add more "types" later as they get things more tested, realistically its just prompts hidden behind bubbles, but allows them to slowly roll out options that they've heavily vetted.

I think that basically stretched the limit of what local model can achieve today, which also makes their image API almost useless for any serious generative art developers.