Apple WWDC 2024: What to expect including iOS 18, AI and more
Apple will soon take the stage to discuss the details of its upcoming significant operating system improvements, allowing developers time to prepare their apps for a fall-wide release. The Worldwide Developers Conference of the company is coming up soon. At WWDC 2024, a few of the key features of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, along with plans for watchOS, macOS, and visionOS, are expected to be unveiled by Apple.
However, given the state of technology today, it appears likely that Apple will soon follow its competitors and take a significant step into the field of generative AI. Given that they are the only two letters that investors appear to care about these days, that may be the main topic of the speech.
We’ve heard various fragments of information regarding what WWDC might include because the rumours about Apple don’t stop churning.
Although it doesn’t appear likely that any significant hardware announcements will be made at the event, one can never be sure until Tim Cook concludes.
After all, the most recent WWDC was when the Apple Vision Pro made its debut
Nevertheless, the following is what to anticipate from Apple’s WWDC 2024 keynote:
When is WWDC 2024?
Apple WWDC 2024: What to expect including iOS 18, AI and more
June 10 to June 14 is when WWDC 2024 takes place.
Although the week will be filled with events, the main focus will be on Apple’s keynote, which is scheduled for June 10 at 1 PM ET.
The presentation will be available for viewing on Apple’s YouTube channel, Apple TV app, Apple Developer app, and Apple.com.
Many of the important features of Apple’s upcoming major releases of its primary operating systems—iOS, macOS, watchOS, and perhaps visionOS—are often unveiled during the company’s keynote address.
At the same time, we anticipate that this time around, Apple will likely not be as concerned with revealing new hardware during the WWDC keynote as in previous years.
AI
Apple WWDC 2024: What to expect including iOS 18, AI and more
The term “AI” has become a major industry buzzword over the past two years, despite Apple’s general reluctance to use it too frequently during its events.
Our lives are being impacted by generative AI more and more, and a piece of that action is ready to be taken by Apple.
It’s thought that a primetime-ready AI chatbot is not currently had by Apple.
The business struck an agreement with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT into iOS 18 while it still works on it. Apple is still eager to work with Google to get that company’s Gemini AI assistant available on iPhones, but that may not happen until later, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg.
Meanwhile, an update to Siri is anticipated for all compatible devices utilizing Apple’s massive language models. Though it’s thought that this Siri update won’t be released until early 2025, reports also indicate that many more specialized tasks can be performed by the voice assistant in some apps (such as opening documents and sending emails).
According to reports, Apple’s approach to generative AI in both iOS 18 and macOS 15 is practical and focused on assisting people rather than, for instance, enabling them to swiftly write lengthy text passages that they can then sell as ebooks for a quick profit. Rather, you will likely see GAI capabilities in core apps such as suggested replies for emails and messages, TL;DR text summaries, voice memo transcriptions (finally!), and enhanced photo touchup tools.
The majority of the AI processing is anticipated to be handled by Apple on-device, with the balance being transmitted to data centres. This begs the question of how Apple will uphold one of the company’s basic beliefs: customer privacy. It must describe how it safeguards user data while it travels from the device to a data centre.
iOS 18 / iPad 18
Apple WWDC 2024: What to expect including iOS 18, AI and more
As usual, a wide range of iOS and iPadOS apps will soon get additional functionality. The most noteworthy is perhaps the anticipated addition of RCS to Messages.
GMSA’s Rich Communications Service (RCS) is a more sophisticated messaging protocol compared to the three-decade-old SMS. Because RCS provides end-to-end encryption, it is more secure than traditional SMS. Better media sharing is possible thanks to its high-resolution photo, video, and audio files. Group chats may be conducted properly with RCS, and Wi-Fi messaging is also supported.
However, Apple resisted adding RCS to its platform for years, despite Google’s persistent requests that it do so, to maintain iMessage more of a walled garden. Naturally, many of the functions of RCS are also included in iMessage. When someone requested better Android messaging compatibility so they could share films with their mother, Apple CEO Tim Cook once advised them to “buy your mom an iPhone.”
In the end, Apple softened its position on RCS last year, presumably to comply with stringent EU rules. It is reasonable that this functionality will launch in iOS 18 since the business stated that RCS support would be enabled in 2024. This implies that shortly, texting across iOS and Android devices should be much better (even though texts from Android devices will still show up on an iPhone as green bubbles). Google, meanwhile, has recently begun enabling Android users to amend RCS messages within a 15-minute timeframe after they are sent.
Gurman added that unique emoji production based on text message content is probably something Apple will enable. It appears that you won’t have to keep apps confined to a strict grid layout and that you’ll also be able to alter the colours of the app icons on your home screen.
An auto-generated playlist option for Apple Music could come after Spotify released a tool powered by OpenAI in 2023. It is rumoured that Apple Maps will soon support custom routes and topographic maps, which debuted on the Apple Watch last year. Along with the option to display mathematical notation and a voice recording feature that would work well with the anticipated transcription feature, Notes is also tipped to get an update from Apple.
It’s said that certain updates are coming to other essential programs, such as generative AI features in productivity apps like Pages and Keynote. Although no specifics have emerged as of yet, it is anticipated that others like Mail, Fitness, and Health will also receive new features.
Calculator
Apple WWDC 2024: What to expect including iOS 18, AI and more
This eagerly awaited upgrade merits its subsection. Yes, a significant redesign of the Calculator app for Mac and iPhone is reportedly in the works. Apart from the sarcasm, the redesign seems like it will be helpful, featuring better unit conversions, interaction with the Notes app, and a sidebar with a list of recent activities. It’s also rumoured that the app will launch for iPad.
macOS 15
Apple WWDC 2024: What to expect including iOS 18, AI and more
Let’s venture a wild guess right now and say that Apple plans to christen the upcoming macOS version after a significant California location. That would be the least surprising thing Apple could do during the keynote address.
Many of the iOS app updates—including those related to Apple Music, Notes, and productivity—are anticipated to be duplicated in macOS 15.
Apple is reportedly rearranging the System Settings app according to the relative importance and priority of the different categories. As a result, it is anticipated that the General tab will move up in the hierarchy while Sound and Notifications will move down.
In other news, the present colourful version of Siri’s menu bar symbol may be replaced with a new flat monochrome design. Some much-needed accessibility enhancements might also be included, such as the Shortcuts feature that enables a certain setting or function to be initiated with a personalized spoken word.
Apple hardware
Apple WWDC 2024: What to expect including iOS 18, AI and more
Apple WWDC 2024: What to expect including iOS 18, AI and more
With the introduction of the Vision Pro, the 15-inch MacBook Air, the M2 Ultra-powered Mac Pro, and the Mac Studio, last year’s WWDC was a hardware extravaganza. However, we don’t anticipate seeing much from Apple in the hardware arena this time around.
The business recently updated its portfolio of iPads, and considering the October improvements to the MacBook Pro and iMac and the March refresh to the MacBook Air, it’s perhaps a bit early for any new laptops.
Of course, the upcoming Apple Watches and iPhones won’t be revealed until September. However, the chance might be seized by Apple to integrate its M3 or perhaps M4 chips into its other desktop systems, a large number of which are still stuck with M2 technology.
Some updated peripherals and other devices were shown. Apple may introduce a USB-C charging version of the AirPods Max at some point in the future.
Gurman stated back in January 2023 that a new Apple TV box would be available in the first half of 2024. There’s still a slim chance that will transpire. Apple may also include a camera on the Apple TV.
Thus, the largest screen in your house may be used for FaceTime chats without the need to use an iPhone or iPad.
Apple Vision Pro
Apple WWDC 2024: What to expect including iOS 18, AI and more
Regarding hardware, one thing we anticipate is Apple revealing the next destination for the Vision Pro. The headset has only been accessible in the US up to this point. It is likely to alter in the upcoming days, weeks, and months. According to several publications, the rollout’s next phase will include Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the UK. Though few leaks of visionOS 2 have surfaced thus far, it’s unclear what kind of updates the mixed reality operating system will receive.
Everything else
Regarding watchOS upgrades, the rumour mill has been silent as well. Apple’s wearable operating system will undoubtedly see some significant improvements, but following the significant redesign last year, watchOS may just see a minor update.
Though tvOS rarely receives much attention during an Apple presentation, we’ll undoubtedly hear about an update during WWDC. The scoop may not be available until the Platforms State of the Union event at 4 PM ET. This also applies to HomePod and CarPlay.
Remember that nothing is set in stone until speakers like Craig Federighi, Tim Cook, and others take the WWDC keynote stage and talk about what’s coming up for Apple’s goods and services. But we anticipate hearing about many of the aforementioned updates and announcements, based on the reports of multiple writers covering Apple who have a solid reputation for getting things right.c
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