ChatGPT for iPhone: Long Press to Access Recent Photos
OpenAI has added a shortcut in ChatGPT for iPhone that surfaces your four most recent photos with a long press on the plus button. This update arrives while Apple’s own camera and visual assistant features remain unavailable for iPhone users in the EU due to ongoing disputes under the Digital Markets Act.
Previously, users had to navigate through multiple menus to access recently taken photos, making the process more cumbersome. The new feature simplifies this by providing quick access to your four most recent images with just a long press.
Adam Fry, OpenAI’s consumer product lead, described it as "a fun, power user feature". This update was part of OpenAI’s 21 August weekly release, which also included improvements in time handling and faster loading for lengthy conversations on the web.
While this might seem like a minor gadget-blog item, it fills a significant gap left by Apple. At WWDC26, Apple demonstrated Siri modes in the Camera app and Visual Intelligence, allowing users to ask questions about objects without attaching images. However, European iPhone owners are currently not eligible for these features due to ongoing regulatory disputes.
OpenAI’s move could be seen as capitalizing on this gap in the market, offering a viable alternative to Apple’s absent visual assistant. With around 450 million affected users across the EU, OpenAI is strategically positioning itself to fill this void. The company has also expanded its advertising presence into 31 European countries, further emphasizing their commitment to this region.
A long press on ChatGPT’s plus button is a simple feature for most users, but in Europe, it becomes a valuable tool, bridging the gap left by Apple’s absent visual assistant technology.