Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference tends to eschew new hardware in favor of updates to Cupertino’s numerous software platforms. And that appears to be the case for WWDC 2024, with no hardware tipped for a reveal during the showcase.
So that leaves you wondering what to expect at this year’s WWDC. If we go by the rumors so far and some educated speculation about what has happened before and the state of the technological world, we can get a good idea of what we think will be shown.
Without further ado, read on for five things to expect at WWDC 2024.
Lots of AI
Since the Samsung Galaxy S24 phones are packed with generative AI tools and Google I/O was all about AI, we’re willing to bet that Apple will also leverage AI for its software platforms.
Now Apple is no stranger to AI, with clever algorithms used to stitch together impressive photos on iPhones, and its in-house designed chips with the Neural Engine dedicated to handling machine learning workloads .
But Apple has yet to delve into generative AI, where smart tools can create new things instead of optimizing existing data or enhancing photos and videos. So we can expect Apple to showcase some generative AI technology, such as smart editing tools in Final Cut Pro, automatic summarization of FaceTime calls, or instant calendars based on meetings or vacation bookings.
Because Apple products have often been the tools of makers, we can expect generative AI capabilities to lean on productivity; for example, helping photo editors or smartly testing code for errors.
Whether Apple develops its own AI models or partners with the likes of ChatGPT, we can expect to see multi-modal AI – where data can be processed from multiple inputs, sensors and sources – to play a role, as Apple’s AI efforts will certainly be over the will be spread all over the world. ecosystem instead of being limited to macOS or iOS, for example.
Smarter Siri
Rumors are swirling that the Siri virtual assistant is getting a significant AI upgrade, possibly with help from ChatGPT.
While Siri may have led the rise of virtual assistants with its debut in the iPhone 4S, it’s now seen as a bit of a dumbass compared to the capabilities and accuracy of Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. A new injection of smart techniques, especially improved natural language understanding, better search capabilities and access to a multi-modal AI model, could make for a much more capable Siri.
We are talking about the ability to understand compound sentences in natural language, for example when you are told to draw up a list of restaurants to visit based on someone’s travel agenda, or to plan an entire vacation using details of flights booked and hotels to collect.
Such upgrades, combined with the long reach of Apple’s iPhones, could see Siri make a real comeback in the virtual assistant arena.
Big changes for iOS 18 and iPadOS 18
Apple can’t have WWDC without iOS, in its 18th guise this year. And we expect Apple to give us a detailed look at what new features, tweaks and changes will come with iOS 18.
Most notable – and you’ve probably already noticed a theme here – will probably be the integration of new and improved AI features. Judging from the rumors, this could mean the use of ChatGPT integration across the platform.
What form this will take is not yet clear, but it will likely be a follow-up to a smarter Siri, with features such as smart responses to emails or AI-powered editing in the Photos app, and smart playlist curation in Apple Music that’s being built. to iOS 18.
The same probably applies to iPadOS 18, given its close relationship with iOS. Ideally, we would see some more productivity and creativity-oriented tools to unleash the potential of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models with M4 chips. A more desktop-like environment like the aforementioned iPads connected to a Magic Keyboard would be good, but that could be wishful thinking.
Expect things like new accessibility settings and some design tweaks for both iOS and iPadOS.
Smart stuff in macOS 15
Like iOS, the next version of macOS, which will arrive in its 15th guise, will be shown off at WWDC 2024. And you can expect many of the features being added to cross-ecosystem apps like Notes, Pages, Safari and more. to make their way into macOS equivalents.
I don’t want to sound like a broken record here, but AI with a generative twist will definitely have a place in macOS. We can think of this as smart ways to summarize documents, presentations and web pages, smart editing tools, smart help with coding environments, improving web search and other productivity-oriented features.
Likewise, we can expect some design tweaks to the look and feel of macOS, possibly with improved accessibility features and options, and perhaps more options for customization.
AI and watchOS
To beat the AI drum again, we can expect to see some smart, generative AI-driven features potentially added to watchOS, and get a full look at watchOS 11. AI would likely be used in conjunction with a connected iPhone that performs the processing, for the purpose of searching sensor and fitness tracking data to create tailored and customized workouts for users.
You can see the addition of AI-powered virtual coaches and trainers and cleverly using an iPhone’s cameras to film a person’s posture and balance during activities like yoga, and then letting an Apple Watch use audio and haptic cues to give someone the perfect shape. .
We’re also expecting new capabilities in watchOS, like better health monitoring and detection of issues like atrial fibrillation – just don’t expect the return of blood oxygen for the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
And the rest…
We don’t expect a huge focus on home or audio tech for Apple, but we can expect some AI features to trickle down through the rest of the Apple ecosystem, like adding smart tuning for AirPods based on where someone is, or the ability to create smart smart home routines through Apple’s HomeKit and Home app.
The Apple Vision Pro is sure to make an appearance and will likely see a boost in features and broader uses. But since the mixed reality headset isn’t exactly a must-have device at the moment, Apple might not pay much attention to it.
We’ll be bringing you all the latest news from WWDC 2024, so stick with Ny Breaking. And if you want to catch the livestream for yourself, check out our guide on how to watch WWDC 2024.