- The main focus of WWDC will be on Siri and other major AI updates.
- iOS 27 could introduce changes designed for the iPhone Fold
- Apple may preview a new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini
When Tim Cook gave his first WWDC keynote in 2012, Siri began with a joke: “How many developers does it take to change a light bulb? None, that’s a hardware problem.”
If Apple reopens this year’s keynote with Siri, let’s hope it has some new material because the Apple Intelligence features it originally promised for iOS 26.4 are now expected to arrive with iOS 27, making this WWDC a pivotal moment for Apple’s AI ambitions.
Of course, given the broader transition underway at Apple, the stakes are high for this year’s WWDC to truly deliver. With John Ternus taking over on September 1, which is also around the same time Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone, iOS 27 will have to do more than just add AI features.
As usual, we also expect several updates to be announced for iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27. And while WWDC is traditionally a software-focused event, there are rumors of a new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini, both of which could receive an early preview ahead of a possible launch later this year.
There’s also a chance (as we tease in the TechRadar podcast below) that Cook pulls a scene directly from The Wolf of Wall Street and announces that he won’t be leaving after all. Surely it would be one more thing…
Look
A smarter Siri
Apple’s invitation to WWDC 2026 heavily hints at major updates to Siri AI, which isn’t a huge surprise given that many of us have been waiting months for the more personal and AI-powered Siri to debut last year.
At this point, it’s almost a given that Siri will get the shine we’ve been waiting for, making it smarter and more useful in a variety of apps. According to reports from Bloomberg Apple insider Mark Gurman, we also expect Siri to get chatbot-like capabilities and a dedicated app with iOS 27. It’s rumored to largely live inside the Dynamic Island on top of your iPhone.
If those speculations turn out to be true, I’d put Siri front and center of everything you do on your device, by doing this he The biggest announcement we expect to hear next week, especially since Apple apparently threw in the towel on Apple Intelligence by signing a deal with Google to allow Siri to run on Gemini.
In fact, this upcoming WWDC may be Apple’s last chance to fix Siri and deliver the AI they promised us; So there’s no pressure, Cook.
New Apple intelligence features
Aside from the rumored updates that Apple Intelligence will bring to Siri, such as the ability to track tasks, see what you’re looking at on your phone, and work across all your apps, there has also been talk of other new AI features that are planned to be added to Apple’s operating systems.
Gurman, again, has been the primary source for this advice, most recently suggesting that Apple Intelligence’s imaging capabilities “will get a big boost this year.” That suggests a big update is planned for the Photos app, which could also include new AI-powered image editing features.
Earlier this year, Gurman also noted that Apple’s Writing Tools feature could get an AI boost to help users with spelling and grammar, as well as creating shortcuts with AI by allowing users to more easily create automations on their iPhone, iPad, and Mac using conversation prompts.
A tune-up of iOS 27
Numerous Apple apps are reportedly set for big changes with the arrival of iOS 27. From the camera and weather apps to Safari and Wallet, Gurman has suggested there could be several major updates.
Underpinning many of the changes will be the new AI feature, Visual Intelligence, which will be rolled out to major iOS apps to enable more “agent” automations on your phone.
Of course, there’s also a chance we’ll get our first look at how iOS 27 could support an iPhone Fold, which was speculated to launch in September but could be delayed until next year if the latest round of reports is true. It is expected to run on iOS 27, although some consider it to be compatible with iPadOS 27.
There could also be good news for those with non-Apple devices, as Gurman reported that iOS 27 could relax its streaming protocols to be more open to third-party apps. That could mean you have the option to set, for example, Google Cast as your default setting for streaming video and audio.
Changes throughout the operating system 27
Considering that iOS 27 is rumored to be a much smaller revision than what we got last year, many of us, as reported by MacRumors, are hoping for an update more along the lines of Mac OS X Snow Leopard, which, if you remember, focused solely on improving performance.
If that’s true, it could mean we hear less about new features and more about underlying quality improvements that support the integration of Apple Intelligence across the Apple ecosystem.
One of the minor improvements we’re hoping for is Liquid Glass, which could have a new system-wide slider for adjusting opacity intensity, although we probably won’t see any major design changes.
Gurman has also hinted at new features for the AirPods, suggesting that Apple will “revamp” the controls and settings for its wireless earbuds to be “more functional, better organized, and more streamlined,” but don’t expect a new dedicated app like the one the Apple Watch has (Siri is more likely to get a standalone app instead).
A new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini
Although WWDC is primarily a software-focused event, there’s a chance we could preview the rumored new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini ahead of their potential launch later this year.
There have been rumors about the launch of a new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini since last year, and with Gurman confirming that both are “almost ready to go” in his Sunday newsletter, it would make sense to show a revamped Siri running on new devices.
Less likely, but still possible, is the possibility that we will receive an update on Apple’s next line of desktop computers, including the Mac mini M5, Mac mini M5, Mac Studio M5 Ultra, and iMac M5s, which have been delayed due to production challenges and global supply chain shortages.
Which rumored WWDC 2026 announcement are you most hoping to see? Let us know by voting in the poll below or leaving a comment. We’ll be covering the keynote in a live blog, so be sure to check back with us for more information.
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