What has changed in macOS Sequoia 15.2?

The macOS 15.2 update includes the second phase of AI support for Apple silicon Macs, introducing the Image Playground app, and integrated ChatGPT support in both Siri and Writing Tools. AI now extends support to several of the non-US variants of English, including English (UK), although non-English languages won’t gain support until next year.

Apple’s release notes are a real joy to read and contain more detailed information at last, including the following:

Photos enhancements,
Safari supports background images for its Start Page, tries to use HTTPS on all sites, and more,
Sharing item locations in Find My,
Sudoku for News+,
Presenter preview for AirPlay,
Pre-market quotes in Stocks.

Among the more significant bugs fixed is that Apple silicon virtualisation on M4 Macs can now open all VMs, including macOS guests before 13.4. For those running Ruby with YJIT enabled, this update should fix kernel panics with M4 chips. Further fixes are detailed in the developer release notes, and enterprise release notes are here.

Security release notes are available here, and list 42 entries including 4 in the kernel, none of which Apple reports may already have been exploited.

iBoot firmware on Apple silicon Macs is updated to version 11881.61.3, and T2 firmware to 2069.40.2.0.0 (iBridge: 22.16.12093.0.0,0). The macOS build number is 24C101, with kernel version 24.2.0.

Version changes in bundled apps include:

Books, version 7.2
Freeform, version 3.2
iPhone Mirroring, version 1.2
Music, version 1.5.2
News, version 10.2
Passwords, version 1.2
Safari, version 18.2 (20620.1.16.11.8)
Screen Sharing, version 5.2
Stocks, version 7.1
TV, version 1..5.2
Tips, version 15.2
VoiceMemos, version 3.1.

Inevitably, there are many build increments in components related to Apple Intelligence, and a great many across private frameworks. Other significant changes to /System/Library include:

Screen Time, build increment
Siri, version increment
VoiceOver, build increment
Kernel extensions including AGX… kexts, AOP Audio kexts, AppleEmbeddedAudio, AppleUSBAudio, and several virtualisation kexts
One new kernel extension, AppleDisplayManager
APFS to version 2317.61.2
Most of the Core frameworks have build increments
FileProvider framework, build increment
Virtualisation framework, build increment
PrivateCloudCompute framework, new version
Spotlight frameworks, build increments
New private frameworks include Anvil, AppSystemSettings (and its UI relative), AskToDaemon, many Generative… frameworks involved with AI, OSEligibility, TrustKit, WalletBlastDoorSupport
Several qlgenerators have build increments.

After that lot, the next scheduled update to macOS Sequoia is in the New Year.