Apple WWDC: New AI system, iOS 18, smarter Siri, powerful apps in line

Apple is preparing to take a major leap into the world of artificial intelligence at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

The tech giant will introduce “Apple Intelligence,” a new AI system integrated across its ecosystem, including the next versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, reported Bloomberg.

Holistic approach

This system, a fusion of Apple’s proprietary technology and tools from OpenAI, aims to transform the way users interact with their devices.

Apple’s AI ambitions extend far beyond just catching up with competitors like Microsoft and Google. The Bloomberg report stated Apple is “concentrating on features with broad appeal.”

The company plans to deeply integrate AI capabilities across its major apps and operating systems. Moreover, these new AI features will be entirely optional. Users can enable these features if they like or disable them if they wish to.

Establishing comprehensive AI ecosystem

Privacy remains a paramount concern for Apple, even as they embrace the cloud for AI. The company assures users that it will not create user profiles based on their data and will regularly publish transparency reports to demonstrate its commitment to data security.

Apple’s AI-powered features will integrate into various apps and services, providing users with a more intuitive and efficient experience. For instance, you can expect AI-powered summarization of articles, web pages, notes, and messages, which will save you valuable time by quickly gathering key information.

The email experience will also get a boost with reply suggestions, automatically generating full responses for you. Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, will also undergo a major overhaul, allowing you to precisely control app functions with voice commands.

For developers, Xcode will offer AI-powered code completion, accelerating the app development process. Additionally, the Mail app will gain a Gmail-like categorization feature, helping you organize your inbox more efficiently.

Fun with customization

Apple is also planning to inject fun into its ecosystem with AI-created emoji. This feature will generate custom emoji characters instantly, adding a personal touch to your messages.

Meanwhile, the Voice Memos app will gain automatic transcription capabilities, and the Photos app will integrate AI-powered editing tools, making it easier to enhance your images or remove unwanted objects.

In addition to AI, Apple is revamping its software to offer users more customization options and an improved user experience. With iOS 18, you’ll be able to personalize your home screen like never before, changing the layout and colors of app icons to suit your style.

Control Center and Settings will receive interface updates, improving navigation and organization. Apple is also introducing a dedicated Passwords app, bringing the Calculator app to the iPad, and updating the Calendar and Health apps.

For Apple Watch users, the watchOS 11 update will enhance Siri and revamp apps like Fitness.

A significant shift

While WWDC is typically software-centric, the innovations expected to be unveiled at this year’s event will undoubtedly pave the way for exciting new hardware in the future.

Moreover, the new AI features are designed to drive sales of new iPhones and Macs equipped with more powerful chips.

That said, Apple’s WWDC announcements are set to herald a significant shift in the company’s approach to AI.