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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Apple’s WWDC returns Monday, June 8.
- Rumored releases include a revamped, agentic Siri.
- Follow our live coverage here or livestream the event.
Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is back June 8-12. Onlookers and Apple fans are hoping for updates on the company’s somewhat stalled Apple Intelligence rollout, Siri’s Gemini-backed future, and, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a pair of rumored AI glasses pushed back to 2027.
Also: Why a Bluetooth upgrade for AirPods excites me more than cameras or AI
That said, being a developer conference, WWDC is usually focused on software. Most hardware announcements, like iPhone 18, happen at September’s Apple Event. We’ll be reporting from the ground at Apple Park on Monday, so be sure to follow along here for live updates on everything announced.
This WWDC will also be CEO Tim Cook’s last, as he winds down through September and John Ternus takes his place. Here’s what we know so far about what the company is planning to reveal.
How to watch WWDC 2026
The keynote address will kick off the event on June 8 at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. ET. You can stream it on YouTube, Apple’s website, Apple TV, and in the Apple Developer app.
Also: Apple reportedly working on ‘Ultra’ lineup of devices in 2026 – including this foldable iPhone
What we’re expecting
As usual, Apple doesn’t share much about what’s coming to WWDC prior to the event, but there are enough rumors flying to compile here, especially those sourced by Apple whisperer Mark Gurman of Bloomberg.
Souped-up Siri
Apple has been breadcrumbing us with a supposed AI-first Siri revamp for at least two years now, but it’s finally expected to land on Monday, backed by a partnership with Google — specifically its Gemini assistant. The only reason to believe this now more than in previous years is that Gurman’s latest report on the matter included Bloomberg-rendered mockups of what the new Siri could look like, based on information Gurman obtained.
Also: This handy Apple Intelligence feature saves me over $200 a year
A revamped Siri would function more like a full AI agent, able to assess what’s on your screen and use it as context for your queries. With autonomous capabilities, it would edit images or share files for you, similar to the agents we’ve become used to over the last 6 months or so, including the ever-controversial OpenClaw. It will allegedly have its own app, similar to how you’d access another chatbot like ChatGPT or Claude on your phone.
All the 27s
WWDC will give us a look at the new operating systems coming in the fall, including iOS 27, iPadOS 27, MacOS 27, TVOS 27, WatchOS 27, and VisionOS 27. We expect these to come with some new AI features as well, based on Gurman’s reporting: similar to the new Siri, natural language updates will let you tell Apple Intelligence to intuitively run tasks for you, like creating shortcuts.
Also: The first settings I immediately change on every new iPhone – and why
For WatchOS 27 specifically, Gurman predicts a potentially sleeker and simpler face for Ultra. On the VisionOS front, while the company will likely wait another year to release new hardware, the Vision Pro will get some new accessibility features the company announced in May, like controlling wheelchairs with eye movement.
Current rumors, again from Gurman, also anticipate new AI photo editing tools, called Extend, Enhance, and Reframe. The first will mimic generative fill-style features that other AI applications offer, while Enhance could function similarly to a Google Photos AI tool that adjusts elements like color and lighting. Reframe uses 3D spatial data to change the perspective of images.
A foldable phone
Apple may also release a high-end line of “Ultra” devices (Gurman’s terminology) this year, balancing out the company’s new budget Neo laptop. The Ultra name calls back to Apple’s existing Apple Watch Ultra and M-series Ultra chips, as well as CarPlay Ultra. A foldable phone could be the next addition to that tier, which would mimic a smaller iPhone when closed but appear more like an iPad when unfolded.
However, this and other devices in this potential lineup, including a touchscreen MacBook, may not come until Apple’s September event, which is more hardware-focused.
