Apple’s annual World Wide Developer Conference kicks off on Monday at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET with the usual Tim Cook keynote. Whereas last 12 months’s WWDC will likely be remembered because the event that finally introduced the world to the Vision Pro, the corporate is hoping to make next week’s event much more memorable because it finally spells out its generative AI plans.
You’ll find information on find out how to stream the event live over here.
WWDC’s opening salvo is different from other Apple keynotes, in that it’s the kickoff to a weeklong online and in-person event, running from June 10 to 14. While the corporate began opening things up more to the general public throughout the pandemic, it’s necessary to recollect the explanation for the season: Very like Google I/O and Microsoft Construct before it, the true purpose for the event is showcasing the most recent updates for developers.
Hardware updates
While the previous few years have showcased key hardware updates, owing to developments in Mac silicon and last 12 months’s headset preview, WWDC is just not a hardware event. In reality, the most recent buzzing from the rumor mill points to a keynote presentation that’s very light on the hardware. Bloomberg is now even suggesting the event will likely be entirely devoid of latest hardware.
Bear in mind, Apple made a peculiar selection of hosting a standalone virtual iPad event almost exactly a month prior to WWDC. The May 7 program debuted recent versions of the iPad Pro and iPad Air. Much to the chagrin of many, AI didn’t play a significant role within the event. In any case of the fanfare around models like GPT and the large fuss Google has been making around Gemini integration in Android, Apple needs to come back out swinging next week.
That said, the brand new M4 chip did just debut on the iPad. MacBooks featuring the chip and its more powerful siblings can’t be too distant. Nor can the upcoming iPhone A18 chip, which the corporate will almost definitely claim is “essentially the most advanced smartphone chip for AI” or something equivalent.
AI all the pieces
Concern that Apple has fallen behind on gen AI has been enough to prompt Cook to vow big things on shareholder calls. In reality, the CEO made the choice to comment on future plans. In May, he promised that the corporate would “break recent ground” on generative AI, adding, “We consider it’ll unlock transformative opportunities for our users.”
Will Apple’s bid to interrupt recent ground be, the truth is, groundbreaking? I anticipate it’ll be big on guarantees for developers, highlighting how generative AI will affect future versions of the corporate’s various operating systems — with a give attention to iOS. Rumors around Apple’s approach to the world of enormous language models have been swirling around for a while now.
Early reports suggested the corporate was meeting with Google about potential Gemini integration for iOS. That will be an enormous win for Google, with the model playing a key role in two operating systems that account for a combined 96% of the worldwide mobile operating system market. More moderen reporting, nevertheless, has pointed to a partnership with OpenAI. Very like I/O before it, I’d anticipate being sick and drained all of the AI talk by the point the corporate is finished.
Following the collapse of its electric automobile project, Apple reportedly shuffled plenty of employees into its internal generative AI efforts. Given how fresh that news is, it’s protected to say that company remains to be trailing the competition there. With that in mind, I anticipate a number of the AI-related news will come off the back of its OpenAI deal.
iOS 18 with more AI
Together with that partnership, expect iOS 18 to be centerpiece of the event. There’s loads riding on what’s reportedly “considered one of the largest iOS updates — if not the largest — in the corporate’s history.” It’s going to be so big, the truth is, that Sarah took day out of her busy schedule to collate the rumored updates. I don’t need to repeat her work, so I’m going to distill a few of the rumors here. Go read her story for more.
- Siri will likely be getting a long-awaited refresh, courtesy of Apple’s generative AI work. The update will make the smart assistant more capable with the power to directly edit photos, delete emails and other each day tasks. The update can also be said to be bring an improved voice, notification summaries, together with a complicated version of Siri for Apple Watch.
- AI can even be infiltrating the Safari browser for more intelligent search, Notes for summarization and Voice Memos for transcriptions (something Google has touted for a while now).
- Generative AI is even coming to emojis, allowing users to customize and create their very own in Messages.
- Apple can also be said to be loosening up layout restrictions so users can place icons and widgets wherever they need on their homescreen.
Apple announced that RCS (Wealthy Communication Services) is coming to Messages, to make Android users feel barely less bad — still green bubble, mind. Reports suggested it might arrive last fall, but that ship has obviously sailed. This coming fall, then again, looks like a high-quality bet, especially with the entire DOJ thing looming.
macOS 15 debut
Each time Tim Cook says “AI,” an investor gets their wings. While iOS is undoubtedly going to be the large operating system focus, Apple’s still got recent within the works for desktop. We’ll be be getting the official name for macOS 15. What’s essentially the most AI California place name? Alameda? Alcatraz? RodAI Drive?
A number of the above iOS updates must also make their approach to macOS, including those in Siri, Notes and Safari. Apple’s office apps are said to be getting a gen AI boost, as well. That features assistance in Pages, Keynote and developer environment app, Xcode.
System Settings will likely be continuing Apple’s longstanding project of turning macOS into iOS, with a design refresh. Apple ought to be overhauling some key accessibility features, as well. And don’t forget essentially the most exciting update of all, some big design changes to Calculator — the app most of use but someway never manage to take into consideration.
