Apple's WWDC 2025: Major UI Overhaul Expected, But AI Advancements May Disappoint

Apple WWDC 2025: What to expect from iOS (19 or 26?), Apple Intelligence, VisionOS, and more

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference is only a week away. The WWDC 2025 kicks off on Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m. PT at Apple Park, with the full conference running through June 13. The event will feature the new software generation for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Vision Pro, and Apple TV. This developer conference also marks one year since the company entered the AI space with the announcement of Apple Intelligence. As a result, all eyes are on Apple and its much-awaited updates on the progress of Apple Intelligence, such as when the upgraded Siri update will be rolled out to devices and what new features will be coming next. Apple begins the event with a keynote that debuts the latest software updates to iOS, MacOS, WatchOS, VisionOS, and tvOS. This year, you can also plan to hear a lot more about the company's AI initiatives at Apple Intelligence Also: iOS 19 may give your iPhone a big battery life upgrade - without you needing to do a thing Each year, Apple hosts media, developers, and students at its WWDC event. Developers attending in person or virtually can learn, connect, and engage in multiple activities and consultations to optimize their apps. Those not invited to Apple Park can watch the keynote livestream on Apple TV, YouTube, and Apple's website. "We're excited to mark another incredible year of WWDC with our global developer community," said Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. "We can't wait to share the latest tools and technologies that will empower developers and help them continue to innovate." ZDNET will be attending in person, bringing you the latest updates, hands-on images, videos, and demo experiences on our website and social media platforms. Apple is reportedly planning to rebrand its operating system names, moving from generation numbers to years. According to the Bloomberg report, instead of getting iOS 19, MacOS 16, WatchOS 13, and VisionOS 3, you'll be getting iPadOS 26, MacOS 26, WatchOS 26, tvOS 26, and VisionOS 26. Also: Is Apple's iOS 26 rebranding a gimmick or pure genius? My verdict as an iPhone and Mac user Apple is also expected to make big changes to the iPhone user experience, including redesigned icons, menus, apps, and windows that will give iOS a new look. The major software overhaul would be the first in at least 12 years, as Apple hasn't made significant design changes to its user interface since the release of iOS 7 in 2013. Apple is reportedly focused on making these changes to iOS, MacOS, and iPadOS to unify the user experience across the iPhone, Mac, and iPad and make navigation more intuitive. Greg Joswiak, Apple's SVP of marketing, posted on X a "Sleek peek" at what to expect at WWDC, including a short animation that is likely a nod to the redesign coming to Apple's operating system. When Apple launched Apple Intelligence, the company positioned its AI as a personal assistant that -- equipped with the context of your daily interactions -- could deliver advanced assistance, centered around a Siri upgrade. However, Apple so far has only unveiled some less advanced features, such as Genmoji, Writing tools, and Photo clean-up, while repeatedly delaying Siri 2.0. The result has been frustrated users and a consensus that Apple may not be as ready to compete in the AI race as it claimed. Therefore, the world will be closely watching Apple's announcements surrounding its AI developments. While Apple could use the WWDC 2025 stage to make a comeback, people close to the matter told Bloomberg that it likely will not be the case. Also: 3 Apple Intelligence features that would convince me to ditch Gemini and ChatGPT According to the report, the company will be taking a gap year, with bigger AI projects -- such as a revamped version of its Shortcuts app, Apple's AI doctor via the improved Health App, and a ChatGPT competitor -- coming at a future date. The event may include some sneak peeks, but it is likely that Apple will approach this carefully after receiving some backlash from showcasing Apple Intelligence features at last year's WWDC that were nowhere near ready. The biggest AI-related announcement will reportedly be that Apple is opening up its Foundation Models to third-party developers, which should spur some innovation and growth in the AI sector, with developers building deeper integrations of their offerings into a more helpful experience on devices. Before each WWDC event, Apple holds a Swift Student Challenge, an annual coding competition for students worldwide. The competition encourages developers 13 years and older who are enrolled in high school or other educational programs to create an app using Swift Playgrounds. The winners get Apple swag and prizes, and the top 50 participants can attend the WWDC in person in Apple Park. Also: Your iPhone is getting these useful features with iOS 19 - including a big one for multitaskers Get the morning's top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.

Apple WWDC 2025: What we expect including new iOS software updates, macOS, AI and more

Apple's big 2025 software reveal is nearly upon us. On June 9, the Worldwide Developers' Conference (WWDC) keynote will showcase the changes coming with its 2025 software. That includes -- deep breath -- iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS. Leaks suggest this year will be a biggie. In addition to the requisite Craig Federighi gags and a California-themed name for the latest macOS update, expect a significant visual overhaul -- one of Apple's biggest ever -- and (shocker) new Apple Intelligence features. The company is reportedly set to unveil a platform-wide visual overhaul. The revamp is said to be a dramatic change, drawing inspiration from Apple's mixed reality headset. According to Front Page Tech's Jon Prosser, that may even include (nearly) round icons on the home screen and in Control Center. He also noted subtler changes, like a redesigned tab view within apps and the search box in Messages being moved to the bottom of the screen. One of Apple's core goals with the new software is to unify the design language of its operating systems. The idea is to make it less visually jarring to hop between devices. If executed well, jumping from iPhone to iPad to Mac (and so on) will feel like touring different flavors of the same OS. Apple's last big macOS makeover was with 2020's Big Sur. For the iPhone's software, you have to go all the way back to 2013. That's when iOS 7 kicked skeuomorphic design to the curb, replacing it with a flat, minimalistic look. Minus some iterative changes, it's still the UI you see today. Along with the big visual refresh, Apple is also rumored to be changing how it names its operating systems. Instead of having random version numbers at the end, the company is apparently planning to unify the names by year -- so iOS 19 would become iOS 26, as it'll be Apple's platform for the coming year. The same goes for all of Apple's other software, so we're looking at iPadOS 26, macOS 26 and so forth. Of course, it goes without saying that macOS should still get a California-themed name; hopefully Apple won't be throwing that tradition in the bin just yet. It'll stick around, according to Bloomberg: the current rumor is that the next version of macOS will be named Tahoe. Could 2025 be the year the iPad Pro starts to feel... Pro? The high-end versions of Apple's tablet have been more than capable on a hardware level for generations. (Especially when they switched to M-series chips.) But the software has held it back. That's presumably because the company doesn't want to cannibalize Mac sales. After all, if the iPad Pro can truly replace a laptop, then fewer people would buy both. The bad news for those wanting a full-on Mac experience: The iPad won't switch to macOS. The good news: iPadOS may get much more Mac-like. This year's update will reportedly focus on productivity, featuring improved multitasking and app window management. It's not that Apple hasn't inched the iPad's software in that direction. It incrementally did so with Stage Manager in iPadOS 16. The year before, it added the multitasking menu at the top of app windows. But for many, those tweaks fell far short of the full-on productivity overhaul they craved. Will it be enough this time? Bloomberg's Mark Gurman thinks it will "likely go far enough" for most power users. (Is that a "Hallelujah!" I hear?) Even if leaks hadn't already suggested as much, this one would be a no-brainer. After all, AI has been every tech company's obsession since ChatGPT took the world by storm over two years ago. Expect a healthy portion of the keynote to be devoted to Apple's AI advances. These will reportedly include improvements to existing features and a few new ones. Remember when Apple promised a more personalized Siri at last year's conference? The one that many wished would come ahead of the visual overhaul? Well, we're still waiting on that. The last official update we heard was in March, when the company told Daring Fireball, "It's going to take us longer than we thought." (Oops!) Apple expects the new Siri features to arrive "in the coming year," a clear-as-mud description if ever there was one. A report from The Information last month hinted that the upgraded Siri was nowhere near ready. The 2024 demo, where Siri condensed minutes of multi-app planning into mere seconds, reportedly came as a surprise to team members working on Siri. (Never an encouraging sign.) Separate reporting this month from Bloomberg sheds a bit more light, adding that we probably won't hear much about those Siri upgrades at WWDC 2025. The publication described those updates as being months away from shipping. The company is also reportedly separating its Apple Intelligence and Siri marketing. The logic behind this is that users are so fed up with Apple's assistant that it's hurting Apple's AI push. The company's 2024 presentation was undoubtedly impressive. It showed a more context-sensitive Siri that better understands what you're doing. It pulled info from various apps and spliced them together in a seamless flow. It recorded a specific type of video in a third-party app. It shared a meeting summary via email with a teammate. And it found missing information the user remembered reading... somewhere. It even controlled system settings and explained them when needed. The bottom line: If or when Apple pulls off what it promised last year, that's big news for Siri. But don't hold your breath for it to show up at WWDC 2025. According to Bloomberg, the Siri updates we do see will be much subtler. These would include adding the option to use Gemini instead of ChatGPT with the assistant. Another iOS 19 scoop points to an Apple Intelligence feature that's easy to get behind. A new AI-powered battery management mode will reportedly analyze how you use your phone. It can then use that to make power-saving adjustments on the fly. If it works well, that could be pretty nifty. It may also be a key ingredient to a new device: the "iPhone Air." Whatever Apple calls it, the rumored ultra-slim handset is expected to join Apple's lineup this year. Without this feature, the phone's smaller battery might struggle to make it through a typical day. (According to Gurman, it would last several hours less than Apple's other iPhones.) But with the AI battery feature activated, the svelte iPhone could become more practical. Will we see this slim-jim iPhone at WWDC? Well, let's say you have as good a chance of Valve randomly showing up to announce Half Life 3 at Apple's conference. First, the svelte handset is expected to be part of the iPhone 17 lineup, which typically arrives around September. Second, Apple hasn't unveiled a new iPhone at WWDC since Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone 4 in 2010. So, in short, nope. Apple is reportedly working on a virtual health coach. Allegedly codenamed Project Mulberry, the AI feature would pair a refreshed Health app with an AI-powered coach. Bloomberg says the feature would, to some degree, give you advice you'd usually seek from a doctor. The virtual coach would collect data from your Apple devices and use AI to provide personalized health advice, chatbot-style. Apple is reportedly training the AI agent with data from company physicians. Meanwhile, outside experts would shoot educational videos. In March, Bloomberg's Gurman said the virtual coach could arrive as early as iOS 19.4, which wouldn't likely come until early to mid-2026. But a quick aside in a report this month from Gurman and Drake Bennett mentioned that it could be a point of focus at WWDC. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman is predicting that Apple will introduce a centralized, pre-installed app for gaming on the Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple TV. It'll include some of the features in the long-neglected Game Center service like leaderboards and matchmaking and pair them with a dedicated game launcher and editorial content including recommendations -- including a push towards the Apple Arcade service. It wouldn't be an Apple keynote without some wacky Craig Federighi hijinks. Last year, Apple's software lead strapped on a hair-shaped helmet and skydived into Apple Park. At previous events, he showed off his parkour skills, summoned an iPad like he's a Jedi and jammed out on a three-necked guitar. Say what you will about "Hair Force One." Federighi knows how to sell a sight gag. (With maybe just a teensy bit of help from Apple's visual effects artists.) Following Apple's typical schedule, you can expect the first developer betas to arrive after the conference ends. (Likely the same day!) Public betas would follow early this summer. And you can expect the final versions of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16 and so on to arrive alongside new iPhones this fall. While Apple's developer conference will be jam-packed if they serve up even a fraction of the expectations above, there are a few things we can pretty confidently take off the board, too. With the possible exception of the Mac Pro, nearly all of Apple's hardware lines have either just finished an upgrade cycle (consumer Macs, most iPads) or are going to get updated in the fall as usual (iPhone, Apple Watch). As such, we're not expecting any major hardware announcements. Apple has talked about the Mac Pro at past WWDC events, but that computer is updated so infrequently that it's hard to say with any confidence that we'll see any changes.

Gurman: this WWDC probably won't be Apple's AI comeback - 9to5Mac

According to Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, Apple insiders "believe that the conference may be a letdown from an AI standpoint," highlighting how far behind Apple still is. Still, Apple has a few AI-related announcements slated for June 9. As previously reported, this year's biggest AI announcement will be Apple's plans to open up its on-device foundation models to third-party developers. These are the same ~3B parameter models Apple currently uses for things like text summarization and autocorrect, and they'll soon be available for devs to integrate into their own apps. To be clear, this is a meaningful milestone for Apple's AI platform. It gives developers a powerful tool to natively integrate into their apps and potentially unlock genuinely useful features. Still, these on-device models are far less capable than the large-scale, cloud-based systems used by OpenAI and Google, so don't expect earth-shattering features. Elsewhere in its AI efforts, Apple will reportedly: As Gurman puts it, this feels like a risky "gap year." Internally, Apple is aiming to make up for it at WWDC 2026, with bigger swings that "it hopes it can try to convince consumers that it's an AI innovator.". However, given how fast the competition is moving, waiting until next year might put Apple even further behind, perception-wise. Currently, Apple's ongoing AI developments include an LLM Siri, a revamped Shortcuts app, the ambitious health-related Project Mulberry, and a full-blown ChatGPT competitor with web search capabilities. According to Gurman, Apple is holding off on previewing some of these features to avoid repeating last year's mistake, when it showed off Apple Intelligence with features that were nowhere near ready and are still MIA. Behind the scenes, Gurman reports Apple has made progress. It now has models with 3B, 7B, 33B, and 150B parameters in testing, with the largest ones relying on the cloud. Internal benchmarks suggest its top model is close to recent ChatGPT updates in quality. Still, concerns over hallucinations and internal debates over Apple's approach to generative AI are keeping things private, for now. As for Apple's developer offerings, Gurman reports: "Developers will see AI get more deeply integrated into Apple's developer tools, including those for user interface testing. And, in a development that will certainly appease many developers, SwiftUI, a set of Apple frameworks and tools for creating app user interfaces, will finally get a built-in rich text editor." And if you're still waiting for Swift Assist, the AI code-completion tool Apple announced last year, Gurman says Apple is expected to provide an update on it. Still, there is no word yet on whether this update includes releasing the Anthropic-powered code completion version that its employees have been testing for the past few months.

WWDC 2025 Likely 'Smaller-Scale' Than Past Two WWDCs, Here's Why

There are signs that WWDC will be "smaller-scale" this year than it was in 2023 and 2024, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. At WWDC 2023, Apple unveiled the Vision Pro, along with its visionOS operating system. While the headset has faced low sales, due in part to its high $3,499 starting price, this was still a major and highly-anticipated product announcement. Apple Intelligence debuted at WWDC 2024, in response to the surging popularity of generative AI platforms like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. At WWDC 2025, however, Gurman said it is unlikely that there will be any major new hardware or software announcements of that scale. "There are no major new devices ready to ship," he said, in his Power On newsletter today. In addition, some Apple employees believe that WWDC 2025 may be a "letdown" from an AI standpoint, according to Gurman. He said that Apple "will do little" to show that it is catching up to leading companies in the generative AI space, including OpenAI and Google, and Apple's shortcomings could become "even more obvious." Gurman does expect Apple to provide an update on Swift Assist at WWDC 2025, and he said that SwiftUI will get a rich text editor. On the other hand, Gurman believes that Apple's redesigned software platforms should be exciting for many Apple fans. iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, and watchOS 26 are all rumored to have a new visionOS-inspired, glass-like design with more translucent user interface elements, such as menus, buttons, and icons. "The updated user interface will certainly be the standout announcement, even if it risks sending the message that Apple is stuck in the past," wrote Gurman. Ultimately, where WWDC 2025 will rank in Apple fans' minds is subjective, as some might find redesigned software platforms to be even more interesting than the Vision Pro and Apple Intelligence. For others, though, Apple failing to make meaningful progress on the generative AI front might be an overshadowing disappointment. The good news is that Apple is expected to make a bigger push into AI heading into 2026, with the company still working on a conversational ChatGPT-like version of Siri, a revamped Shortcuts app powered by Apple Intelligence, and more.

Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote may be an AI 'letdown', but there are 4 Apple Intelligence projects it's working on that you should be excited about

WWDC 2025 is just around the corner, but those looking forward to major AI announcements from Apple might need to wait a bit longer. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman ($/£), a generally reliable source for Apple info, Apple's AI comeback "probably won't be happening at this year's WWDC." In fact, "People within the company believe that the conference may be a letdown from an AI standpoint." That's disappointing for those who expected Apple to bounce back from its Apple Intelligence woes at this year's WWDC keynote. It's not all doom and gloom, however, as Gurman says we'll see an AI-powered battery management mode, alongside Apple opening up its Foundation Models to third-party developers, which should allow for better AI integration across iOS. Gurman also says we'll get a "quiet rebrand" of some existing features in Safari and Photos, which will now be called "AI-powered." If you think that all sounds pretty underwhelming, then I'd be inclined to agree. However, Gurman also reports that Apple is working on some major AI improvements that the company could reveal at WWDC 2026, "when it hopes it can try to convince consumers that it's an AI innovator." Here are the four major Apple Intelligence projects Apple is working on: We've discussed LLM Siri numerous times already, but while we had hoped to see the Apple Intelligence-powered Siri that we were promised at WWDC 2024 this year, it appears that this highly anticipated Siri upgrade won't feature in June's keynote. LLM Siri would give iPhone users a voice assistant on a par with the best, such as Gemini Live and ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode. Unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to wait longer than expected, as it's unlikely to be included in iOS 19 (which is set to be renamed iOS 26). Gurman also claims Apple is working on a "revamped version of its Shortcuts app," which will add Apple Intelligence into the mix to allow users to create custom actions powered by AI rather than created manually, as in today's version of the app. He claims this project was initially planned for launch this year, but now, due to delays, it could be pushed to 2026. Code-named Mulberry, this AI doctor idea is essentially the evolution of Apple's Health app. Gurman says it's "slated to be released in 2026 as part of a spring update to iOS 26. Expect a kind of chatbot-esque health app that would work similarly to those found in fitness trackers like Whoop or the Oura ring. This idea has been rumored for a while now, and makes sense considering Apple's focus on health and fitness with the industry-leading wearable, the Apple Watch. Last but not least, Apple is said to be working on a ChatGPT competitor that "can pull in data from the open web, which some employees have dubbed 'Knowledge.'" Gurman reports that this project is being led by Robby Walker, who was working on Siri up until a few weeks ago, when a new project leader, Vision Pro's Mike Rockwell, was put in charge. Apple would love to be able to compete with the likes of OpenAI and Google in the AI space, although Gurman says, "employees familiar with the work say it's already been plagued by some of the same problems that delayed the Siri overhaul."

Lighter than normal WWDC expected without significant Apple Intelligence uprgrades | AppleInsider

The upcoming WWDC keynote may not help raise the profile and functionality of Apple Intelligence much, with a report claiming Apple's AI announcements will be sparse, and disappointing. Following the introduction of Apple Intelligence at WWDC in 2024, the AI effort at Apple has endured an agonizingly slow and rocky rollout. While the 2025 event offers an opportunity for Apple to turn things around, a report offers little hope that Apple will do just that. According to Sunday's "Power On" newsletter from Bloomberg, sources within Apple believe that WWDC will be a disappointment form an AI perspective. In the wake of the Google I/O keynote offering massive new AI features and advancements, WWDC could make Apple seem like it is falling behind the rest of the industry. The 2025 WWDC is said to be somewhat smaller in scope compared to the 2023 and 2024 versions. However, there is the belief that after a year-long break, it will try hard to innovate for WWDC 2026.

Apple Might Not Make Any Major AI Announcements at WWDC 2025

Apple reportedly has several under-development AI projects for 2026 Apple is not planning to make any major artificial intelligence (AI) announcements at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025, set to be held between June 9-13, as per the report. The Cupertino-based tech giant is said to be still behind schedule on its previously announced AI features, and will avoid introducing any new features that might not be ready to be shipped by the time the new versions of its operating systems are out. However, the company could open its smaller AI models to third-party app developers and preview an AI-powered power management mode. In his Power-On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman states that the iPhone maker does have a few AI tools and features in its pipeline, however, they are unlikely to be released this year. Citing unnamed people familiar with Apple's WWDC plans, the report claimed that this year's conference will likely not include any major AI-related announcements and "could make Apple's shortcomings [as an AI leader] even more obvious." The company could still make three AI announcements, however. As per the report, Apple could let third-party app developers access its in-house large language models (LLMs) to add AI features within the apps, or create new AI-powered apps. To begin with, the tech giant is said to offer its smaller models with about three billion parameters, which handle text-based tasks. Other reported AI announcements include introducing a new power management mode which will use AI in some capacity, integration of the Translate app with AirPods and Siri, and a possible rebranding of several existing features in the Safari browser and Photos app as AI-powered. Gurman claims that despite the possible lacklustre AI lineup this year, the company is working on several major projects that might be introduced in the coming years. One of them is the indefinitely delayed revamp of Siri. At last year's WWDC, Apple claimed that Siri would be integrated with generative AI capabilities, and it would be able to speak conversationally and understand contextual commands. Apple is also said to be working on adding AI capabilities to its Shortcuts app and letting users create actions using natural language prompts. Apart from this, an in-house AI chatbot that can access the web, as well as an AI doctor service which is internally called Mulberry, is also said to be in the works. These features will reportedly arrive in 2026 and could be part of next year's WWDC.

What to expect from Apple's WWDC this year - in a nutshell

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference -- WWDC for short -- is where the tech giant sets the tone for the year, unveiling major software updates and occasionally dropping hardware surprises. It's the big stage where developers, fans, and the industry get a front-row seat to what's next from Cupertino. WWDC 2025 is almost here, and the buzz has already begun. Apple's confirmed the event will run from June 9 to 13, with the keynote kicking things off on June 9 at 1 PM ET (10:30 PM IST), livestreamed on YouTube. While the company is keeping most announcements under wraps, leaks and rumours have filled in some gaps -- think major iOS updates, a leap forward in Apple Intelligence, an overhauled VisionOS, and possibly an early glimpse at the iPhone 17 Air. Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 seems less about shiny new features and more about a visual glow-up. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the company is gearing up for a major design overhaul -- codenamed Solarium -- that'll stretch across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Drawing inspiration from visionOS, the refresh promises a softer, more modern aesthetic with rounded icons, translucent menus, and a cleaner overall look. It's the biggest visual update since iOS 7 -- and it's about time the UI got some love. In a move to streamline its software branding, Apple might finally be ditching version numbers in favour of calendar-based naming. That means instead of iOS 19 or macOS 15, we could be looking at iOS 2026 and macOS 2026. It's a small change on the surface, but a smart one -- making it instantly clear which year each update belongs to. Clean, consistent, and honestly, long overdue updates with calendar years -- making it easier for users (and developers) to keep track. While the redesign may steal the spotlight, Apple isn't showing up empty-handed on the features front. iOS 26 is expected to bring a handful of practical upgrades, including: Simplified Wi-Fi sharing across Apple devices A desktop mode for iPhones with USB-C, letting you plug into an external display and get a more PC-like experience Over on iPadOS 26, expect a more Mac-like vibe, complete with a top menu bar and enhanced Stage Manager multitasking. macOS and the rest may not see headline features but will benefit from the overall visual consistency that ties the ecosystem together. Gamers, Apple might finally be paying attention. Gurman hints at a new, dedicated cross-platform gaming app -- a beefed-up evolution of Game Center. Think friend lists, leaderboards, and deeper Apple Arcade integration, all working seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. On the AI front, Apple is focusing on refining rather than reinventing. Expect smarter, context-aware Siri responses and the debut of a new health coaching tool. Developers can also look forward to new APIs to help integrate Apple Intelligence more tightly into their apps. WWDC is typically software-first, but hardware surprises aren't off the table. With the MacBook Air M4, iPad Air M3, and iPhone 16e already out, a major launch seems unlikely. That said, a refreshed Mac Pro -- especially one running on the M4 chip -- would make sense for the developer crowd. And just maybe, Apple might drop a teaser for the much-rumoured iPhone 17 Air, which is expected to be the slimmest iPhone yet. A full reveal? Probably not. A sneak peek? Definitely not out of the question.

Apple Intelligence Will Be Neglected At WWDC, Despite Apple's Falling Reputation Against OpenAI And Google, And Users Would Never Pay For Basic Features In The Long Run

Apple plans to rename its entire software lineup as it moves away from the order-based approach and moves towards a year-based scheme that will eradicate the confusion for customers and developers. It was also recently reported that macOS will be named after Lake Tahoe in California to signify the major UI redesign. This brings us to question if the update will bring any Apple Intelligence upgrades to the table, and as per Mark Gurman, AI will take a back seat this year. Mark Gurman writes in his latest Power On newsletter that the upcoming WWDC event on June 9 will be a letdown as far as the AI features are concerned. The report says that Apple insiders "believe that the conference may be a letdown from an AI standpoint," despite the fact that the company is aggressively losing the AI race against Google and OpenAI. Apple's archrival in smartphone sales, Samsung, is also gearing up to up its game by partnering with Perplexity, which would enhance the list of features it will have to show until the Galaxy S26 Ultra is released. Apple's primary focus this year appears to be a visual design overhaul, shifting from a plain, simple layout to more glass-like effects that users will find in visionOS. However, this does not mean that AI announcements will be non-existent, as the company will have something in store for developers, as it will open its on-device foundation. These ~3B parameters are the same that the company uses for summarization and autocorrect purposes, but it remains to be seen what good features can be derived from it in the long run. For what we can expect, Apple opening up its foundation models to third-party developers will allow them to integrate the technology into their own apps. This could end up being a useful addition in terms of what you can do within apps. Despite these additions, Apple is still miles behind OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini-based features for smartphones. Apple Intelligence is under a lot of scrutiny, as the company delayed its most-hyped Personalized Siri feature until next year. Moreover, instead of introducing more AI-focused features, the company has taken a back seat and is gearing up to introduce visual changes to the platforms, possibly as compensation. Additionally, the company's on-device models are far less capable than cloud-based systems used by OpenAI and Google, which gives room to accommodate ground-breaking features. Apple needs to ramp up its AI development, even if it requires cross-hiring and even initiating further teams that work together for the same goal - making Apple Intelligence a proper platform that users would pay for. We will share more details on the subject as soon as further information is available. Do you think Apple will surprise users with major Apple Intelligence upgrades at its WWDC 2025 event?

WWDC 2025 will be smaller-scale event with limited AI announcements: Report

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, some Apple insiders expect modest AI announcements this year, noting the company still trails competitors like OpenAI and Google. Apple's biggest AI news will center on making its on-device foundation models -- with about 3 billion parameters -- available to third-party developers, as earlier reported. These models, which handle tasks like summarizing text and autocorrecting, will soon be accessible for use in developer apps. However, they are not as advanced as the larger cloud-based systems offered by competitors, according to the report. Apple will also roll out platform updates, including: Gurman describes this as a quieter year, with Apple aiming for more ambitious AI updates at WWDC 2026. Mark Gurman reports that no major new devices are ready to ship, and some Apple staff believe WWDC 2025 may feel like a "letdown" in terms of AI progress compared to competitors. On the software side, the updated user interface is expected to be the standout announcement, though it may risk giving the impression that Apple is stuck in the past. WWDC 2025 will run from June 9 to June 13, with the keynote scheduled for 10 a.m. PDT (10:30 p.m. IST) on June 9. At this event, Apple plans to open its on-device AI models to developers and roll out platform updates like the redesigned iOS 26. While no major hardware launches or groundbreaking AI announcements are expected, the conference will set the stage for Apple's larger AI push in 2026.

WWDC 2025 could be Apple's 'AI gap year' as it focuses on branding over breakthroughs

Other AI-related features coming in iOS 26 reportedly include a new battery-saving mode. Apple is gearing up to host its annual developers conference, WWDC 2025, which is scheduled to kick off on June 9. While many are expecting major announcements, especially in the AI space, it seems Apple might not have too many groundbreaking updates to share this time around. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has shared in his latest newsletter that Apple insiders "believe that the conference may be a letdown from an AI standpoint," showing that the company still has a lot of catching up to do in the artificial intelligence race. That said, Apple still has a few AI-related features planned for the event. Also read: Apple to open third India store in Bengaluru's Phoenix Mall, to pay whopping Rs 2.09 cr annual rent The biggest AI update expected at WWDC 2025 is Apple's move to open up its on-device foundation models to third-party developers. These models are the same ones Apple currently uses for features like autocorrect and text summarisation. Soon, developers will be able to use them in their own apps. While this is a big step for Apple's AI platform, these models are not as powerful as the larger cloud-based systems from OpenAI or Google. Other AI-related features coming in iOS 26 reportedly include a new battery-saving mode, an improved Translate app that works with both Siri and AirPods, and some AI-powered upgrades in apps like Safari and Photos. Also read: macOS 26 may not support these four Mac models: Is yours on the list? As Gurman explains, this could be a "gap year" for Apple. The company is saving its more ambitious AI projects -- like an LLM Siri, a revamped Shortcuts app, and a ChatGPT-like assistant with search features -- for future releases. Internally, Apple hopes to make a stronger push at WWDC 2026 to "try to convince consumers that it's an AI innovator." Meanwhile, Apple is said to drop version numbers like iOS 18 and macOS 15, and instead start naming its software based on the upcoming year. That means the next wave of updates will likely be called iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 26.