Apple’s WWDC 2024 is set for June 10, focusing on AI integration across its major apps and features, emphasizing privacy and security.
The event will cover iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, tvOS 18, and visionOS 2. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg shared what to expect during the keynote, including:
Apple Intelligence
A new AI system integrated into iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems. Partnership with OpenAI to introduce a ChatGPT-like chatbot. New software for Vision Pro headset, Apple Watch, and TV platforms.
AI Features
- Integration in Apps: AI will be added to many apps to simplify daily tasks, focusing on broad usability rather than advanced tech like image and video generation.
- Opt-In and Beta: Users can choose to use new AI features, which will be available in beta. Requires iPhone 15 Pro or newer models, or iPads/Macs with an M1 chip or later.
- Processing: AI features powered by Apple’s technology and OpenAI tools, using either on-device processing or cloud computing as needed.
- Privacy and Security: Emphasis on security features, no user profiles based on data, and reports ensuring data safety. On-device processing highlighted when possible.
- Summarization: New features to summarize articles, web pages, meeting notes, messages, and missed notifications in Safari.
- Reply Suggestions: Automatic, detailed responses for emails and texts.
- Siri Enhancements: Siri to gain precise control over app features and actions, with extended capabilities for third-party apps and multi-command requests expected next year.
- Xcode Upgrade: AI features similar to GitHub Copilot for auto-completing code, fully available to third-party developers next year.
- Mail App Upgrade: A new feature for automatically categorizing emails, similar to Gmail.
- AI-Created Emoji: Custom emoji generated in real-time based on typed words.
- Voice Memos: Automatic transcription of recordings.
- Photos App: Enhanced photo editing capabilities, including easy removal of objects or people.
Other Software Upgrades
- iOS 18 Home Screen: Users can place app icons freely and customize icon colors, marking a significant home screen upgrade.
- Control Center: New interface for rearranging shortcut buttons and multiple pages, with an updated music widget and smart home controls.
- Settings App: Improved navigation, better organization, and more reliable search across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
- Messages App: Ability to trigger effects with individual words, colorful Tapback icons, schedule message sending, and support for RCS for easier communication with Android users.
- Passwords App: A new app for managing passwords, replacing the current iCloud Keychain feature.
- Calculator App: Revamped and introduced to iPad, with a consistent interface across devices.
- Calendar App: Enhanced with data integration from the Reminders app.
- Health App: Better blood pressure data management, potential future hypertension detection, hearing test support with AirPods, and tailored data for pregnant users.
- watchOS 11: Updated Siri interface with response formatting based on queries and major changes to key apps like Fitness.
- Safari in macOS 15: Minor changes expected without a new ad blocker, maintaining privacy focus.
- New Wallpaper Packs: Mac versions referencing old icons and slogans, and iPhone wallpapers resembling early designs.
- Vision Pro: visionOS 2 to include new environments, Passwords app, and iPad software versions, focusing on refinement rather than new features.
Hardware and Future Plans
Gurman mentions that the conference will also hint at upcoming hardware. New health features will support upgraded Apple Watches, and AirPods enhancements will be part of new models coming later this year. AI features will drive sales of new iPhones and Macs with improved chips.
Event Details
WWDC 2024 will run from June 10 to June 14, with the keynote address at 10 AM PDT (10:30 PM IST) on June 10.
The keynote will be available on apple.com, the Apple Developer app, the Apple TV app, Apple Vision Pro, and YouTube, with on-demand playback available afterward.