Apple has released the first developer beta of iOS 26.4, and while the anticipated Siri upgrade is still absent, Apple Music is getting a meaningful AI boost. The highlight is a new feature called Playlist Playground, designed to generate playlists from simple text prompts using Apple Intelligence.
Beyond AI, iOS 26.4 beta also introduces subtle visual updates and new music discovery elements inside the Music app. These changes build on the redesign introduced with iOS 26 and signal Apple’s continued focus on improving the Apple Music experience.
Playlist Playground is the most significant addition in iOS 26.4 beta. Located in the Library tab under the option to create a new playlist, it allows users to type a prompt describing a mood, genre, activity, or even a specific vibe. Apple Music then generates a playlist of around 25 songs along with a custom title.
Apple also includes preset suggestions such as morning coffee music or disco songs that defined the 1970s, but users are free to enter any description. Once a playlist is created, it can be refined with follow-up prompts without starting over. Users can manually reorder tracks, remove songs, add new ones, customize the cover art, and edit the description before saving it to their library or sharing it on their profile.
The feature is labeled as a beta and appears to rely on Apple Intelligence models that download in the background after installing iOS 26.4 beta. If Playlist Playground does not appear immediately, it may become available once those models finish downloading. It is currently limited to developer beta testers, with a public beta expected ahead of a wider spring release.
In addition to Playlist Playground, Apple Music in iOS 26.4 beta introduces dynamic backgrounds for albums and playlists. Instead of a plain white backdrop, the interface now adapts to match the dominant colors of the album artwork. The change is subtle but makes browsing feel more immersive and visually cohesive.
Another new addition is concert discovery. After updating, some users are prompted that Apple Music can now show upcoming concerts near them. While Apple has not shared technical details, the functionality appears similar to what is already available in Shazam, which Apple owns. That service displays tour dates, venue information, and ticket details, and Apple Music now seems to be integrating comparable live event data directly into the app.
Other iOS 26.4 beta features include encrypted RCS messaging and support for video podcasts in Apple Podcasts, but within Apple Music, Playlist Playground stands out as one of the first visible Apple Intelligence tools integrated directly into a core app.
iOS 26.4 beta is currently available to registered developers. Apple has indicated that the update will be released to the public this spring.
