Apple is set to introduce new artificial intelligence features at its upcoming developer conference, which kicks off on Monday. This will be the last conference for CEO Tim Cook before he hands over the reins to John Tarnas in September.
The World Wide Developer Conference typically gathers a large number of developers from roughly 60 countries at Apple’s headquarters in Silicon Valley. The focus here is mainly on software, contrasting with the fall events where new iPhones are unveiled.
Experts anticipate that the company will share insights into its new AI capabilities, particularly regarding updates to the Siri voice assistant.
“While hardware announcements are rare during developer conferences, we might catch some hints about Apple’s plans for foldable devices, wearables, and smart home products through various updates,” noted Gallo Sevilla from eMarketer, describing 2026 as a “year of transition” for the event.
Apple has been trying to catch up with other tech giants in the AI realm. Currently, they leverage Google’s Gemini AI model to enhance their AI capabilities.
Sevilla mentioned that Siri is likely to be reshaped into a more conversational AI chatbot, one that will remember previous interactions and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
There seems to be a positive outlook regarding the potential improvements for Siri.
“A revamped version of Siri that can handle conversations and tasks across various devices could become very popular, similar to how AirDrop and Handoff have integrated into Apple’s ecosystem,” Sevilla added.
Tim Cook had previously announced his retirement in April, concluding a 15-year tenure during which Apple’s market value increased by over $4 trillion, largely driven by the success of the iPhone.
John Ternus, who has been part of Apple for 25 years, recently spent five years managing the engineering behind the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. His extensive experience positions him well as Cook’s successor.
The leadership change comes at a crucial moment for Apple, as the rise of artificial intelligence is creating significant shifts in the industry, reminiscent of the major impact seen when Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone in 2007. However, Apple’s journey has not been smooth; they have faced challenges in launching AI-based features they had promised almost two years ago.
