Apple is usually not the first to dive into new product categories — as seen with its approach to the iPhone, smartwatch, and Vision Pro. Those segments were already taking shape before Apple entered, but they found a way to make a significant impact.
Now Apple is gearing up to make a similar impact with artificial intelligence. Nearly two years after the generative AI boom took off, the company is poised to unveil its vision for this technology. At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, Apple plans to announce initiatives that deeply integrate AI into its core apps and features while emphasizing its ongoing commitment to privacy and security.
The company’s new AI system, called Apple Intelligence, is set to be integrated into upcoming versions of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems, according to sources familiar with the plans. Additionally, there will be a partnership with OpenAI to power a ChatGPT-like chatbot. Alongside this, Apple is preparing to showcase new software for the Vision Pro headset, as well as its Watch and TV platforms.
WWDC 2024 Time
The AI features will take up around half of Apple’s WWDC keynote presentation, which kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific time and usually lasts about two hours. Other highly anticipated features might steal the spotlight, such as ones that boost iPhone customization and enhance the Apple Watch. When asked about these plans, a company spokesperson declined to comment.
Here’s everything to look out for during the keynote address:
AI features
Apple’s AI Strategy:
- Integration into Apps: Apple will integrate AI into many of its apps to ease daily life for customers, focusing on features with broad appeal rather than whiz-bang technology like image and video generation.
- Opt-in and Beta Version: The new capabilities will be opt-in, allowing users to choose whether to adopt them and will be positioned as a beta version.
- Hardware Requirements: Users will need an iPhone 15 Pro or models with an M1 chip for iPads and Macs to support the processing requirements of AI.
- AI Technology: Apple’s AI features will be powered by its technology and tools from OpenAI, using on-device processing or cloud-based computing depending on the task.
- Security and Transparency: Apple will emphasize precautions taken for data security, including security features on chips in data centers, and will generate reports to show that user data is secure and not being sold or read.
- Summarization and Catch-up Features: Apple will include features that quickly recap articles, web pages, meeting notes, text messages, and emails, as well as a catch-up feature for missed notifications.
- Reply Suggestions: The iPhone will be able to automatically create fully fleshed-out responses to emails and text messages.
- Siri Revamp: Siri will be revamped using large language models, allowing users to have precise control over individual features and actions within apps.
- Xcode and GitHub Copilot: Xcode will work similarly to Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot, completing code for programmers automatically.
- Mail App Upgrade: The Mail app will include a feature that automatically categorizes incoming messages.
- AI-created Emoji: The iPhone will generate custom emoji characters on the fly that represent phrases or words as they are typed.
- Voice Memos: Voice Memos will include the ability to automatically transcribe recordings.
- Photos App: The Photos app will embed new capabilities into photo editing, making it easier to enhance images or remove objects from frames.
Other software upgrades
Apple’s iOS 18 and Related Updates:
- Home Screen Customization: Users will be able to place app icons anywhere on their home screen and customize icon colors for the first time.
- Control Center Updates: The Control Center will allow users to rearrange shortcut buttons and add a new music widget and smart home appliance control interface.
- Settings App Updates: The Settings app will have improved navigation, better organization, and more reliable search across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
- Messages App Updates: The Messages app will include new effects features, colorful Tapback icons, and the ability to schedule messages and use any emoji for Tapbacks.
- Passwords App: Apple is launching a Passwords app, essentially an app version of iCloud Keychain, offering an alternative to 1Password and LastPass.
- Calculator App: The Calculator app is being brought to the iPad for the first time and will have the same interface as the iPhone version.
- Calendar App Updates: The Calendar app will include the ability to bring in data from the Reminders app, but the two apps will not be combined on iOS or macOS.
- Health App Updates: The Health app will include improved blood pressure data management and support for a new hearing test feature on Apple AirPods.
- watchOS 11 Updates: watchOS 11 will include an updated Siri interface and major changes to key apps like Fitness.
- Safari Updates: Safari in macOS 15 will have some changes, but it seems unlikely that Apple will unveil its ad blocker.
- Wallpaper Packs: Apple is releasing new wallpaper packs for its devices, including Mac versions that reference old-school icons and slogans.
- Vision Pro Updates: The Vision Pro will not get a major overhaul with visionOS 2 but will include new environments, the Passwords app, and Vision Pro versions of iPad software.
Hardware and what’s coming later
WWDC typically emphasizes software, though Apple has occasionally introduced new devices at the conference, such as last year’s unveiling of the Vision Pro. However, this year is an exception. With the next batch of devices anticipated in the fall, no new hardware announcements are expected at next week’s event.
Nevertheless, the conference will lay the groundwork for future developments. The new health features will be pivotal for the upgraded Apple Watches expected this fall. Similarly, the enhancements to AirPods will be integral to multiple new models launching later this year. Meanwhile, the AI features should boost sales of new iPhones and Macs with upgraded chips in the coming year and beyond.
