What not to expect at WWDC 2024
Here’s what you shouldn’t expect: hardware. Not only is Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference typically focused on software, but serial Apple tipster and Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman claims there will be no new products at WWDC 2024.
So if you like smart Apple technology, does that mean you should skip the event coverage and our WWDC 2024 guide? Of course not.
That’s because, obviously, software needs hardware to run on it, and the potential upgrades and tweaks to the likes of iOS, iPadOS and watchOS could breathe new life into existing hardware.
There are indications of a significant Siri AI upgrade that could transform the rather lackluster virtual assistant – at least compared to the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa – into a genuinely useful tool complete with generative AI capabilities; Think of it as coming up with vacation plans based on your bookings and plane tickets or neatly summarizing phone calls and meetings.
If such Siri machinations happen, it could mean a major upgrade for the likes of the iPhone 15 and recent iPads. But it could also indicate that the iPhone 16 range could be a much more AI-focused phone, with generative AI-powered features that could take on the likes of the Google Pixel 8 and Samsung Galaxy S24.
And AI will likely play a big role in WWDC 2024 in general, especially since we’ve seen the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models come with the M4 chip designed to be more efficient for AI workloads.
From there we can say that there will be macOS upgrades or future features that center around AI and automation; think AI-assisted editing in Final Cut Pro or AI-powered virtual instruments in GarageBand.
Don’t expect any Mac hardware refreshes as we’ve had new MacBooks and desktop Macs recently. It would be nice to see a refreshed iMac with a 27-inch screen, but that’s wishful thinking.
I’d also like to see Apple put some AI into its audiovisual equipment. I’d like to see smarter AI controls and tools for fine-tuning things like audio balance with AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, or combining different sensors in the headphones and the connected iPhone to provide information on things like wellness tracking without that you need an Apple Watch.
Any developments on this side could also hint at what we can expect from the rumored AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2 – both of which I suspect will have smarter features for their upgrades rather than huge leaps forward in audio quality.
Smarter watches, smart constructions
Looking further into the Apple Watch, we can expect new watchOS features that can leverage the AI processing of connected iPhones – likely the more recent iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models. This could include more tailored fitness routines or smart recommendations of places to visit based on your location and walking speed; wandering slowly might suggest you’re looking around for a place to eat.
From there we could get an idea of what the Apple Watch 10 might offer, and perhaps whether an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on the way; I suspect it will take another twelve months or more, considering the Apple Watch Ultra 2 came out last September.
If we look at products that have not yet been updated much, we look at the HomePod range. While they are quite capable speakers, neither the full-size nor the compact HomePods have had many major updates or features. I highly doubt this will change with WWDC, but I’d be curious to see if Apple adds some AI technology to HomeKit, allowing for more home automation and smart routines between its products and third-party devices.
Ultimately, the answer to the question posed in this article is that the software and platform upgrades and changes that Apple could show will likely increase the capabilities of existing hardware and show a direction that future products could take in 2024 and beyond stock up.