Apple is gearing up to showcase a range of artificial intelligence-driven features at its highly anticipated Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 on June 10. According to tech insider Mark Gurman, these new AI capabilities will be known as “Apple Intelligence.”
Alongside these innovations, Apple is set to introduce a new Passwords app and an updated Music widget for the iPhone Control Centre with the release of iOS 18. However, fans expecting new hardware announcements may be disappointed, as the company is not planning to unveil any new devices at this event.
The “Apple Intelligence” suite is expected to play a central role in Apple’s future software and hardware developments, including upcoming product launches. Over the next few years, Apple aims to release products in various areas such as home robotics, advanced AirPods, augmented-reality glasses, and smart rings.
Improvements to existing features like Siri, along with new AI-based capabilities like health coaching, are anticipated to utilize advanced sensors to provide enhanced health data for current and new hardware.
After putting its ambitious “Apple Car” project aside, Apple is exploring hardware innovations that build on the technology behind devices like the Apple Vision Pro. One area of interest is home robotics, potentially designed to help users with limited mobility perform daily tasks.
While WWDC typically focuses on software, with new operating systems as the main highlight, the upcoming event is expected to follow this tradition. Apple is likely to introduce the latest versions of its operating systems, which could be named iOS 18, iPadOS 18, tvOS 18, and watchOS 11. macOS is expected to advance to version 15, though the official name is still unknown.
In addition, Apple will highlight visionOS, the operating system for its Vision Pro headset. Currently at version 1, visionOS is set to receive several updates and is expected to be upgraded to version 2 at the event. This new version will include various accessibility enhancements, such as system-wide Live Captions.
Apple Intelligence: All things AI
Excitement is building for Apple’s WWDC24 on June 10, where the tech giant is poised to unveil groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) innovations under the banner “Apple Intelligence.”
Early rumors from October 2023 suggested that iOS 18 will focus heavily on AI, more than Apple had originally planned. This includes the development of an internal chatbot, “Apple GPT,” and trials of generative AI for customer care tools, hinting at potential partnerships with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Apple has hinted that AI will play a significant role in its forthcoming offerings. In iOS 18, AI integration is expected across various services. Users may find AI assistance in tasks such as document writing in Pages or presentation creation in Keynote. Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, is in line for significant upgrades, enhancing its capability to handle queries and auto-fill sentences in Messages. Siri’s evolution could be powered by Apple’s proprietary Ajax language model, promising a more user-friendly experience.
For developers, AI enhancements in the Xcode development environment could streamline coding by predicting and completing code blocks. This function aims to simplify coding and automate repetitive tasks like generating test code. Consumers can look forward to AI-powered features in Apple’s iWork suite, including tools for generating static and animated images.
One intriguing codename, “Greymatter,” encompasses various AI enhancements. For example, “Greymatter Catch Up” might allow users to ask Siri for a summary of recent notifications. Siri’s new smart response framework will consider contextual elements like people, companies, and events to generate more accurate replies.
In the Photos app, AI-driven image editing features like “Clean Up” could enable users to remove unwanted elements from images using generative AI. Notes may see improvements such as AI-powered transcription and summarization, along with audio recordings and a new app called Math Notes for creating graphs and solving equations.
Apple is also rumored to be enhancing its AI App Store, providing broader access to AI applications. Accessibility features in iOS 18 and macOS 15 are expected to include Voice Shortcuts for mapping accessibility functions to spoken commands, and enhancements in Live Speech and Personal Voice categories.
Non-AI enhancements in iMessage might include text effects and formatting options, potentially integrating with RCS. Safari users could benefit from a Browsing Assistant and Encrypted Visual Search, while the home screen might offer more customization options, including the creation of new emojis and personalized app icons.
Task management could be streamlined with unified events and reminders, improving productivity across iOS 18 and macOS 15. The Music app may introduce a “smart song transition” feature, allowing users to control the duration of crossfades between tracks. Audio Passthrough, linked to Spatial Audio and macOS Quicktime, and Spatial Gaming with hands-free controls are also on the horizon.
The Freeform app is expected to receive navigational enhancements through a “Scenes” feature for better project management and a Snap to Grid option for easier item positioning. Generative AI may also play a role in Freeform’s evolution.
While some speculate that iOS 18 might adopt visual elements from visionOS, this remains uncertain. Nevertheless, Apple’s upcoming AI-driven features promise to significantly enhance the user experience across its ecosystem, marking a pivotal shift in the company’s technological trajectory.
New Hardware?
While Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) predominantly focuses on software, the tech giant occasionally surprises with significant hardware announcements targeted at developers and professional users. Over the years, WWDC has been a platform for unveiling notable hardware updates catering to these audiences.
In 2023, Apple introduced several new devices, including the 15-inch MacBook Air, M2 Max and M2 Ultra Mac Studio, M2 Ultra Mac Pro, and the Apple Vision Pro. The previous year, WWDC 2022 saw updates to the 13-inch MacBook Air and the 31-inch MacBook Pro. A major transition occurred at WWDC 2020 when Apple announced its shift from Intel chips to its own Apple Silicon for Mac hardware. Back in 2017, Apple unveiled the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, an updated 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and new models of the MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, and iMac Pro.
Looking ahead, early rumors suggest that an updated Mac Studio featuring the M3 Ultra chip could be announced in mid-2024, aligning with a possible WWDC reveal. If this materializes, the M3 Ultra is expected to follow the pattern of previous generations, essentially combining two M3 Max chips via an interconnect. This would double the chip components of the M3 Max, offering enhanced performance.
However, the potential introduction of the M3 Ultra at WWDC 2024 is uncertain, especially given Apple’s recent release of an iPad Pro refresh with the M4 chip. This development raises doubts about the timing and likelihood of an M3 Ultra announcement. Furthermore, while there have been rumors supporting a Mac Studio or Mac Pro refresh at WWDC, other reports suggest these updates might be postponed until much later in the year or even 2025.
A December report suggested that Apple might update both the Mac Studio and Mac Pro towards the end of 2024, potentially missing WWDC entirely. Meanwhile, a January report focusing on the Mac Studio made no mention of the Mac Pro. Given the mixed reception to Apple’s last Mac Pro update, the company faces a dilemma. On one hand, updating the Mac Pro could help rebuild user trust; on the other hand, prioritizing the Mac Studio might be more strategically sound.
By mid-May, speculation pointed towards a later refresh for these devices, potentially delaying new releases until 2025. This cautious approach reflects the complexities of balancing innovation with market expectations and technical readiness.
While WWDC 2024 is expected to revolve around software advancements, the possibility of significant hardware announcements cannot be ruled out. Whether Apple chooses to introduce new hardware like the M3 Ultra Mac Studio at WWDC or opts for a later release, the tech community will be watching closely.
One More Thing…
WWDC24 has been a platform not only for software updates but also for introducing new product categories. In 2023, the Apple Vision Pro headset marked a significant addition to Apple’s product lineup.
As WWDC 2024 approaches, major changes to the Vision Pro are not anticipated, but important announcements related to the device are still expected.
One key area of interest is the expansion of the Apple Vision Pro to international markets. Evidence suggests that Apple is preparing to make the headset available globally, and details about this rollout could be disclosed during the WWDC keynote. This would be a significant step in expanding the reach of Apple’s cutting-edge spatial computing technology.
In addition to potential announcements regarding the Vision Pro’s availability, the WWDC event will highlight the Apple Design Awards. This year, the awards will introduce a new category for Spatial Computing, reflecting the growing importance of this field within Apple’s ecosystem. The addition of this category underscores Apple’s commitment to fostering innovation in spatial computing and recognizing excellence in this emerging area.
Furthermore, visionOS, the operating system powering the Vision Pro, is poised to receive a series of updates at the event. These updates are expected to enhance the functionality and user experience of the Vision Pro, making it even more appealing for developers and consumers interested in spatial computing.
