iOS 26 Beta 4 Adds Refined ‘Liquid Glass’ UI and AI News Summaries With Disclaimers

CHICAGO — Apple has officially released iOS 26 Developer Beta 4, delivering visual updates, an enhanced AI-powered notification system, and the return of Liquid Glass elements throughout the interface — just ahead of the public beta launch expected later this week.

This marks the fourth iteration of Apple’s next-gen mobile OS and signals a near-final preview of what users can expect when iOS 26 launches globally later this year.

AI Notification Summaries Return — With a Warning

Among the most talked-about changes in Beta 4 is the reintroduction of AI-generated news summaries for notifications. These were previously pulled after complaints that Apple’s summarization engine had misrepresented news headlines — including a BBC story about a homicide case that wrongly indicated suicide.

In response, Apple has added a setup screen disclaimer under the “News & Entertainment” section stating:

“Summarization may change the meaning of the original headlines. Verify information.”

This is part of Apple’s broader effort to clarify the role of AI in notification content, especially after feedback from publishers and watchdogs.

More details are available via TechCrunch’s full report.

Liquid Glass Aesthetic Gets Re-Polished

After being scaled back in Beta 3, Apple has re-embraced its Liquid Glass design language in Beta 4. Testers noted increased transparency and layering effects in apps like:

• App Store
• Photos
• Weather
• Apple Music
• Notification Center — now with a dynamic tint as users scroll

This stylistic shift aims to make iOS 26 feel more fluid and interactive while maintaining system clarity.

New Welcome Screens, Wallpapers, and Performance Tweaks

Other updates in iOS 26 Beta 4 include:

• A new welcome screen when first updating to iOS 26
• Intro screens for Siri, AI features, and the revamped Camera app
• A color-changing dynamic wallpaper
• Updated CarPlay background options

While Apple hasn’t yet posted full release notes, early users report smoother animations and minor bug fixes across the system. Additional features may be uncovered as developers dig deeper.

The beta update also dropped alongside new developer versions of iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS, and Xcode 26.

Will you test iOS 26 before its official release? Share your impressions of the Liquid Glass redesign and AI notification tools at ChicagoMusicGuide.com.