“The Future Unveiled: Previewing WWDC 2024 and its Revolutionary Offerings: iOS 18, macOS 15, and the Power of AI”

Apple’s Big Plans for Generative AI: A Look Into WWDC 2024

Apple’s eagerly awaited World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) starts today, where CEO Tim Cook will deliver the keynote at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET. The company is known for introducing groundbreaking products at its annual conference, and this year will be no different. While last year’s event revealed the revolutionary Vision Pro, WWDC 2024 holds even bigger plans as Apple unveils its generative AI endeavors. So what can we expect? Here’s a breakdown of what’s in store:

Big Changes for Siri, Mail, and Apple Photos

With a major update, Apple’s AI assistant, Siri, is set to receive a complete overhaul. The new and improved Siri will have enhanced capabilities like photo editing, email management, and much more. Rumors also suggest that Mail will have a new feature called “Ajax LLM” that will offer email reply suggestions. And not to be left behind, Apple Photos will also get a new look and interesting new features.

Stream the Event Live

For those eager to get all the details on the new generative AI plans, live streaming of the event is available here.

WWDC: More Than Just a Keynote

The opening keynote may be the most anticipated event of WWDC, but it marks the beginning of a week-long online and in-person gathering from June 10 to 14. While the pandemic pushed the company to open up more to the public last year, it’s important to remember that the true purpose of the event is to showcase the latest updates for developers.

The Rise of Generative AI

Apple has faced criticism for falling behind in generative AI, leading Cook to promise significant developments on shareholder calls. In May, he even went as far as to comment on future plans, stating that the company will “break new ground” with generative AI and unlock transformative opportunities for users.

Will Apple’s bid for groundbreaking AI be, in fact, groundbreaking? While there’s no way to know for sure, it’s almost certain that the company will make grand promises for developers at the conference. The focus will likely be on how generative AI will shape future versions of the company’s various operating systems, especially iOS. Speculation about Apple’s approach to large language models has been circulating for some time. Early reports suggested a potential integration with Google’s “Gemini,” but recent rumors point to a partnership with OpenAI. And just like with Google’s I/O, we can expect to hear A LOT about AI at WWDC.

Following the failure of Apple’s electric car project, many employees were redistributed to the company’s internal generative AI efforts. As this news is relatively fresh, it’s safe to say that Apple is still playing catch-up with its competitors. Considering this, much of the AI-related news at WWDC will likely revolve around the company’s partnership with OpenAI.

iOS 18: The Spotlight of WWDC

As the centerpiece of the event, iOS 18 will undoubtedly receive a lot of attention. According to reports, this update could be “one of the biggest iOS updates in the company’s history.” In fact, it’s such a massive update that TechCrunch’s Sarah Perez took the time to compile a list of the rumored changes. While we won’t repeat her work here, we’ll give you a condensed version:

• Siri will finally get a much-needed refresh thanks to Apple’s generative AI. The update will give the assistant the ability to directly edit photos, delete emails, and assist with other daily tasks. Siri’s voice will also receive an upgrade, along with notification summaries and an advanced version for the Apple Watch.
• Safari will see the integration of AI for more intelligent browsing, Notes will provide summarization, and Voice Memos will include transcription capabilities (something Google has been offering for a while now).
• Users will also be able to personalize and create their own emojis in Messages.
• Home screen layout restrictions will be loosened, allowing users to place icons and widgets wherever they want.
• Mail will introduce new AI features like asking Siri to make emails sound more professional and generating suggested email replies using Ajax.
• Apple announced that RCS (Rich Communication Services) will finally be coming to Messages, making Android users feel a little less left out. While it was rumored to arrive last fall, it’s likely we’ll see it this coming fall (we hope), especially with the recent DOJ ruling.

Debut of macOS 15

While iOS will likely take most of the spotlight at WWDC, Apple has some news in store for its desktop users as well. The company will finally reveal the official name for macOS 15. Any guesses on the most “AI California” name? We’re thinking Alcatraz, or perhaps RodAI Drive?

As with iOS, many of the updates in Siri, Notes, and Safari will cross over to macOS. Additionally, Apple’s office apps (Pages, Keynote, and Xcode) will get a boost from generative AI. System Settings will continue the trend of making macOS resemble iOS with a design refresh, and the company is expected to make some significant accessibility improvements. Oh, and let’s not forget the most exciting update of all – major design changes to Calculator (finally making it more user-friendly).

“We see AI’s effect as a benefit that empowers everyone and increases their human potential.”

– Tim Cook’s comment during WWDC 2024

Light on Hardware

While the last few years saw significant hardware updates at WWDC, this is not a hardware event. However, Apple did unveil new versions of the iPad Pro and iPad Air in a standalone virtual event in May, which marks the beginning of the company’s movement away from traditional hardware announcements at WWDC. It’s rumored that the keynote this year will be entirely devoid of any hardware updates.

While some may be disappointed by this, keep in mind that the company just released the new M4 chip for the iPad, and it’s only a matter of time before we see it in new MacBooks and the upcoming iPhone A18 chip. So even though they may not steal the show at WWDC, we can expect to see major AI improvements in these devices very soon.