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WWDC 2024: What we expect from Apple’s next big event
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Apple’s annual showcase of software could see major AI announcements affecting its entire product line. Here’s what we expect to see showcased on Monday.
Apple previouslyconfirmedthat the keynote for the Worldwide Developers Conference, aka WWDC, would take place on June 10 this year and now we’re just a few days away from the big event.
The traditionally software-focused keynote address is where Apple usually outlines its key upgrades for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and other key apps and platforms.
While we expect all that to happen, with a big iOS 18 revamp rumoured to be among this year’s highlights, WWDC might also give us our first look at Apple’s big generative AI plans.
Here’s what we expect from this year’s WWDC event.
Apple AI
Apple has already promised to reveal major AI breakthroughs this year, as it seeks to catch up with the likes of OpenAI and Google. It wasn’t clear whether we’d see this breakthrough showcased at WWDC, but Apple dropped a big hint that it would be the focus.
In announcing the WWDC keynote, Apple’s marketing chief Greg Joswiack revealed the event was going to be ‘Absolutely Incredible’. A…I… Hmm.
Mark your calendars for#WWDC24, June 10-14. It’s going to be Absolutely Incredible!pic.twitter.com/YIln5972ZD
In terms of what Apple will announce, the well-connected Bloomberg report Mark Gurman reckons is going to be less about generative AI chatbots like Gemini and Chat GPT (althoughGoogle may provide those for Apple eventually), and more about improvements that will make daily life easier.
Those may manifest through a dramatically enhanced Siri voice assistant that’s far more powerful than the current solution with more natural conversation capabilities.
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iOS 18
The biggest improvements toiOS 18might be via those advanced AI tools and features. Reports have suggested there’ll be AI-assisted writing in apps like Pages and Xcode, as well as auto-generated playlists in Apple Music which might be based upon mood.
Beyond AI features, this year’s iPhone update is also expected to be one of the biggest in years. Earlier this week, reports suggested the home screen may offer greater customisation options withapp icons less rigidly confined to the grid. It’s also likely to see Apple integrate the long awaited RCS messaging support for conversations between users on Android and iOS. Don’t worry thoughiMessage is going nowhere.
iPadOS 18 will get the vast majority of the improvements Apple reveals too, as well as some quirks of its own.
Here’s what I wrote about iOS 18, visionOS 2.0 and watchOS 11 in Power On todayhttps://t.co/yHepnBRSE7pic.twitter.com/K7qY2iVw7I
VisionOS 2.0 and VisionPro UK release date
NowApple Vision Pro is out in the wild– at least for buyers in the United States – Apple will probably show us some of the enhancements it’s working on for the software. Yes, visionOS is likely to join the slew of platforms that are updated once a year, with the first versions showcased at WWDC prior to their consumer launches later in the autumn.
As this is the first WWDC since the Vision Pro has been in the hands of developers (it was announced at last year’s event as a ‘one last thing’), we may get a glimpse of what leading third-party software makers have been preparing for the mixed reality headset.
We’re also expecting to hear about selling arrangements outside the United States, including when Brits will be able to buy Vision Pro.
Other operating system/app updates
It’s highly likely iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will be joined by the new update for Apple Watch in watchOS 11, and Mac computers with macOS 15. Apple TV should get a boost with tvOS 18, while HomePod Software 18 is likely to bring some improvements for users of Apple’s popular smart speakers.
Apple will also likely showcase how a number of its key apps and services are getting better, across the operating system divide. It’s likely we’ll get sustainability, security and privacy updates from the company too.
Surprise hardware?
As was the case last year with Vision Pro, Apple occasionally drops a hardware surprise at WWDC. However, with new MacBooks and iPads already with us, it’s unlikely we’ll see much in the way of new product announcements. Maybe there could be an IPhone SE announcement, but it’s been a bit too quiet on that front for a realistic expectation of a launch. It’s something Apple has announced via a press release in the past too.
We’ll have full, all-hands-on-deck coverage from WWDC 2024 on June 10, so stay tuned toTrusted Reviewsfor instant reporting, reaction, and analysis from one of the biggest dates in the annual tech calendar.
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Max is the Editor of Trusted Reviews, and has been a mobile phone and technology specialist for over nine years. Max started his career at T3 straight after graduating from Kingston University. Max ha…
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Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
