Apple’s iOS 26.4 Beta Ushers in AI-Powered Music Playlists and Video Podcasts

Apple has released the public beta of iOS 26.4, introducing several key updates focused on enhancing the Apple Music and Podcasts experiences. The update, expected for public release in March or April, brings AI-powered playlist generation, video podcast support, and enhanced security features.

AI-Powered Playlists with “Playlist Playground”

A standout feature of iOS 26.4 is the introduction of “Playlist Playground” within Apple Music. Leveraging Apple Intelligence, this tool allows users to generate custom 25-song playlists based on simple text prompts, such as “upbeat workout mix” or “calm evening.” Users can refine the generated playlists and select matching cover art. TechCrunch first reported on this feature.

Apple Music’s user interface has also been refreshed to showcase full-screen artwork for albums, and playlists. A new “Concerts Near You” section helps users discover live shows from their favorite artists, filterable by date and genre, and adaptable to travel locations.

Video Podcasts Arrive on Apple Podcasts

Following Spotify’s move into video podcasts, Apple’s Podcasts app now supports both audio and video playback within the same episode. Creators can publish video podcasts using HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), and listeners can seamlessly switch between audio and video formats, with the option for a full horizontal display for video content. TechCrunch details that video episodes will integrate with existing Apple Podcasts features like personalized recommendations and editorial curation.

Enhanced Security and Other Updates

iOS 26.4 also includes experimental conclude-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages, strengthening message security. Device theft protection is enabled by default to prevent unauthorized access. Additional updates include CarPlay support for video playback when stopped, audio zoom functionality within the camera app, and an “Urgent” category within the Reminders app.

Availability

The iOS 26.4 beta is currently available to the public. The official release is anticipated in March or April. 9to5Mac provides further details on the beta release and feature access.