Apple kicked off WWDC 2026 at Apple Park with a week of announcements centered on its software ecosystem, artificial intelligence strategy, and developer tools. The event sets the stage for updates across iOS 27, Apple Intelligence, Siri, and multiple core apps.
This year’s conference also carries added significance due to leadership changes at the top of the company. Tim Cook is expected to step down as CEO on September 1, with John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, set to take over. The keynote therefore marks one of Cook’s final major appearances leading WWDC.
Apple also made clear that this year’s focus is to strengthen its position in the AI race while refining user experience across its devices. Much of the presentation centered on making Apple’s ecosystem more intelligent, more connected, and more responsive to user behavior.
Siri gets a major AI upgrade powered by Google Gemini
Apple introduced a redesigned version of Siri aimed at making the assistant more conversational, context-aware, and useful across multiple apps. The updated Siri is powered in part by Google’s Gemini models, marking a significant shift in Apple’s AI strategy.
The new Siri is designed to understand complex, multi-step requests and respond more naturally in everyday language. It will also integrate visual intelligence features, allowing it to process and interpret on-screen content more effectively.
Apple confirmed that Siri will now exist as a standalone app while still being deeply embedded across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. This change is meant to give users more direct control over AI interactions while expanding Siri’s functionality beyond simple voice commands.
The company also emphasized privacy, stating that user data is only processed to complete requests and is not used for unrelated purposes.
Apple Intelligence expands across core apps and system tools
Apple unveiled a broader rollout of Apple Intelligence features across its ecosystem, bringing AI assistance deeper into everyday apps. Safari will now include smarter tab management, while passwords can be updated with a single action across supported services.
Messages is gaining AI-powered reply suggestions, helping users respond faster based on context. Meanwhile, the Phone app will be able to pull relevant information from Mail and Messages during live calls, improving real-time communication.
Apple also confirmed it worked with Google’s Gemini models to help power next-generation Apple Foundation Models, which support these features across devices.
The overall goal is to make Apple’s software feel more proactive, reducing manual effort while keeping interactions seamless.
Liquid Glass design gets new customization options
Apple’s “Liquid Glass” interface design is being refined with new user controls that allow people to reduce or emphasize visual effects depending on preference.
Instead of forcing a single visual style, Apple is now giving users more flexibility to adjust transparency, layering, and depth effects within the interface. This is aimed at users who felt the previous design update was too visually intense.
The company also showcased a new layered icon system designed to make apps feel more dynamic while maintaining clarity and readability.
Image Playground returns with improved AI generation
Apple revisited its Image Playground tool with a stronger push to encourage wider use of AI image generation features.
The updated version focuses on better image quality, more consistent character rendering, and improved creative control. Apple also confirmed that images generated in the app will not be used for AI training, addressing privacy concerns.
The interface has been simplified so users can make edits through natural language prompts rather than complex settings, making the tool more accessible to casual users.
iOS 27 expands compatibility back to iPhone 11
Apple announced that iOS 27 will support devices starting from the iPhone 11, making it one of its most widely compatible updates to date.
The company highlighted major performance improvements across the system. Photos will load significantly faster, AirDrop transfers will see major speed boosts, and overall multitasking performance will improve through a redesigned CPU scheduler.
Apple framed this update as a balance between modern AI features and broader device support, ensuring older hardware still benefits from system upgrades.
New parental control tools added to iPhone
Apple introduced expanded parental control features designed to give families more control over how children use their devices.
Parents will be able to set restrictions on who their children can contact, what apps they can use, and which websites they can access. Apple also introduced guided recommendations that adjust restrictions as children grow and their usage patterns change.
For users under 13, features like “Ask to Browse” and “Ask to Buy” will be enabled by default, requiring parental approval for web access and purchases.
Search improvements across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS
Apple showcased a major overhaul of its search system across Spotlight, Photos, and Mail.
The redesign focuses on making search more accurate and reliable, especially in situations where users know content exists but struggle to find it. Apple says the system has been rebuilt to improve indexing and retrieval across apps.
The update aims to reduce friction in everyday device use by making content easier to locate instantly.
Photos app gains new AI editing features
Apple introduced several AI-powered editing tools for the Photos app aimed at competing with third-party editing software.
A new “Reframe” feature allows users to adjust image composition as if the photo was originally taken from a different angle. The “Extend” tool expands images beyond their original borders using AI-generated content.
The existing Cleanup tool has also been improved to remove unwanted objects more naturally with better blending and detail reconstruction.
System-wide AI dictation gets smarter
Apple revealed a new dictation system built into the iOS 27 keyboard that automatically cleans up speech in real time.
The feature can correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and even remove filler words like “um” and “ah” during transcription. It is designed to compete directly with emerging AI dictation apps that offer similar cleanup capabilities.
Apple said the goal is to make typing and voice input feel more natural and efficient across all apps.
Shortcuts app becomes more intuitive with AI prompts
Apple is upgrading its Shortcuts app to allow users to build workflows using natural language instead of manual configuration.
Users can now simply describe what they want to automate, and the system will generate the appropriate shortcut. This makes automation more accessible to non-technical users while expanding what can be built inside the app.
The update is aimed at making device automation easier and more widely used.
Health app adds menopause and perimenopause tracking
Apple expanded its Health app with new features focused on perimenopause and menopause tracking.
The update builds on existing cycle tracking tools and provides users with more detailed health insights related to hormonal changes. It reflects growing demand for digital health tools that support women’s health across different life stages.
Apple positioned the feature as part of its broader push into preventative health and personalized wellness tracking.
Tim Cook delivers farewell message
The keynote concluded with a farewell message from Tim Cook, reflecting on his time leading Apple.
Cook highlighted Apple’s mission to help people connect, learn, and create through technology. He emphasized that the company’s focus on user experience and innovation remains central to its direction moving forward.
He ended by expressing confidence in Apple’s future, stating that the company’s best work is still ahead as it continues developing new technologies and experiences.
Catch up on the rest of WWDC 2026’s reveals here
