Apple is set to hold its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) next Monday, where rational updates to software systems are expected to be announced. However, media analysis suggests the event may not alleviate concerns about Apple’s lag in artificial intelligence. The focus will be more on design and productivity enhancements for the iOS operating system, with limited AI updates and further delays for Siri.
For developers, the most significant AI-related update is Apple’s first-time opening of its foundational large language model, allowing third-party developers to build AI features using the same technology. The keynote speech will begin at 10 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday. Apple will unveil redesigned software interfaces for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch, along with minor adjustments for the Vision Pro headset. As part of this comprehensive overhaul, Apple will also make a major shift in software naming—transitioning from version numbers to a year-based system. This means releases like iOS 26, iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, macOS 26, and watchOS 26, all named after 2026. Internally, these operating systems are referred to as Luck, Charisma, Discovery, Cheer, and Nepali, while macOS continues its tradition of California landmark names, with this year’s version dubbed macOS Tahoe. Although design updates will dominate the presentation, Apple will also discuss its ‘Apple Intelligence’ AI strategy. In this regard, Apple will for the first time permit third-party developers to access its large language model—the core technology of generative AI. Additionally, the company will introduce new office-friendly features for iPad and a series of significant updates for Mac.However, these AI-related updates are quite limited and are not expected to impress industry observers, especially against the backdrop of rapid innovation from Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI. In fact, Apple was already noticeably behind when it launched its AI platform last year, while also indefinitely postponing a major update to the Siri voice assistant. Apple recently restructured the leadership of its AI division, separating the Siri and robotics teams from the AI head. In contrast, Google showcased more powerful models and new AI search features at its developer conference last month, along with a new AI subscription service and the ability to generate realistic videos from simple prompts.
Apple faces another potential competitor. Former design chief Jony Ive, who helped create the original iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, has partnered with OpenAI’s Sam Altman to develop new hardware devices. Samsung Electronics is also increasing its AI investments and plans to establish a deep partnership with the startup Perplexity. Below is a summary of all the content from Apple’s WWDC, including some previously unreported details: Major updates are coming to the Phone, Safari, and Camera apps. Among the new designs and features of Apple’s operating systems, the most notable is the adoption of a completely new interface across all systems, including CarPlay. This new design, internally codenamed Solarium, draws inspiration from the visionOS of the Vision Pro headset. A key interface element is ‘digital glass,’ echoing the codename, which will incorporate more light and transparent design elements. The appearance of toolbars and tab bars will be reshaped, and app icons along with other buttons will be redesigned. The entire system emphasizes the use of pop-up menus, allowing users to quickly access an additional list of options by clicking a button. The menu bar and window buttons on the Mac system will also be refreshed. Although there were rumors that icons on the iPhone and iPad would adopt a circular style similar to those on the Apple Watch and Vision Pro, it currently appears that their shapes will remain largely unchanged. Widgets on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac will also be redesigned to fit the new interface style. However, their functionality remains basically the same and they will not become a more central part of the user experience. In iOS and iPadOS, most core apps will not see major overhauls beyond design changes. Only three apps are set to receive significant updates: Phone, Safari, and Camera.The Phone app has seen little change since the iPhone OS era in 2007. With iOS 26, Apple is introducing a new view that integrates Favorites, Recent Calls, and Voicemail into a single scrollable window. This modern interface is optional, allowing users to switch back to the traditional layout via a toggle.
Safari will feature a new, more transparent, glass-like address bar design. The Camera app will also undergo interface simplification. Currently, the addition of various shooting modes such as Spatial Video, Panorama, and Slo-Mo has complicated the interface. iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 will address this with a redesign. The Messages app is receiving significant upgrades to better compete with modern communication apps like Meta’s WhatsApp. Two major new features include the ability to create polls and set chat wallpapers. These wallpapers will sync across devices, including those of your chat partners, ensuring a consistent look for both parties. For the first time, Apple is bringing the macOS Preview app to iOS and iPadOS. This allows users to manage, annotate, and edit PDF files directly on iPhone and iPad. The interface resembles Pages and Keynote, featuring a large ‘Preview’ logo at the top and various document templates below. This app will be pre-installed, eliminating the need for download via the App Store. Another new pre-installed app is Games, which consolidates game downloads and Apple Arcade in one place, functioning as a dedicated games store. The app includes five tabs: Home, Arcade, Play Together, Library, and Search. Amid the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 release, Apple aims for this app to bolster its role in the gaming industry, though the app itself may not be groundbreaking enough to be decisive. Vision Pro will gain an ‘Eye Tracking Scrolling’ feature, enabling users to scroll through documents and web pages using eye movement, compatible with both native and third-party apps. Apple is also preparing to add ‘Wand’ support for Vision Pro, allowing the use of third-party controllers like the Sony PlayStation VR controller. These specialized controllers, unlike standard gamepads, can simulate hand movements, making them ideal for gaming or as virtual batons to control visionOS.The multitasking capabilities of the iPad will undergo a comprehensive upgrade, bringing the experience closer to that of a Mac. This new feature may require connecting a keyboard and trackpad, such as Apple’s Magic Keyboard.
The Apple Pencil will introduce a new calligraphy tool called the “Digital Reed,” designed for brush-style writing. The iOS and iPadOS keyboards will add a “Bidirectional Mode,” enabling seamless switching between Arabic and English. Apple plans to launch a feature that synchronizes Wi-Fi authentication information across devices. For example, if you log into a wireless network at a gym, hotel, or office, other devices will automatically connect. In a significant AI update, Apple will open its foundational large language model for the first time. The most notable enhancement is the system-level translation function. Initially introduced years ago with the Translate app, it is now integrated across all operating systems as part of Apple Intelligence, primarily for real-time translation of phone calls and messages. The company also aims to provide real-time conversation translation for AirPods users, a feature already available on Android through Google. For developers, the key AI-related update is Apple’s decision to open its foundational large language model, allowing third-party developers to leverage the same technology to build AI features such as Writing Tools, Genmoji customization, and text summarization. Genmoji will receive a minor upgrade, enabling users to combine two existing emojis to create a new one—for instance, merging a basketball and a trash can to form a “shooting hoops” emoji. The Shortcuts app will also be upgraded by incorporating the Apple Intelligence model to enhance its automation capabilities. Apple has developed a new version of its large language model that supports both on-device and cloud deployment, with developers having access to the local version. Apple is working on an AI-powered power-saving mode for the iPhone, which uses AI to optimize battery usage. However, this feature is expected to launch later, as it is tied to the thinner iPhone 17 set for release later this year, which comes with a smaller battery. Siri upgrades continue to face delays. Apple is exploring the integration of Google’s Gemini model as an alternative to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, planning to incorporate it with Siri and Writing Tools. Although Google CEO Sundar Pichai hinted at an imminent agreement, Apple does not intend to announce it at WWDC and may wait until after the U.S. Department of Justice rules on the Google search agreement.The upgrade for Siri has been postponed. Future versions will enable access to personal data and device content, along with more precise control over apps and their functions. However, the development is still in its early stages, and no major updates are expected this year. A completely new version of the voice assistant, internally codenamed LLM Siri, is projected to take at least one to two more years to debut.
Apple also plans to release a new version of the Calendar app across all platforms. Originally scheduled for this year, the launch has been delayed until next year, aligning with iOS 27 and macOS 27. The new systems are internally referred to as Buttercup and Honeycrisp. Additionally, Apple is working on a comprehensive upgrade for the Health app, paired with an AI doctor service codenamed Mulberry. Both are anticipated to launch by the end of next year, with only minor updates expected this year. Last year, the company announced the Swift Assist feature, designed to allow Xcode to auto-complete code. However, it has not been released due to issues such as AI hallucinations and other problems. The solution involves a new version of Xcode that supports integration with third-party large language models, usable either remotely or locally. Apple is currently utilizing the Claude model from Anthropic internally. Risk Warning and Disclaimer: The market carries risks, and investing requires caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not consider individual users’ specific investment objectives, financial situations, or needs. Users should assess whether any opinions, views, or conclusions herein suit their particular circumstances. Investments made based on this information are at the user’s own responsibility.
