Apple WWDC 2026 LIVE | What to expect and where to watch the keynote

Siri AI is coming to iPad OS, and is also accessible via the Siri app in order to revisit existing conversations. The conversational history is synced privately with iCloud so that users can seamlessly switch between devices. Siri AI is also being tailored for Watch OS at present.

Apple’s camera gets a Siri Mode in order to analyse what users see in front of them, similar to what Google Lens does. Siri Mode also suggests actions, such as splitting bills and getting nutritional info about food. 

Visual Intelligence is coming to macOS as well.

VisionOS will also get a Siri AI boost. 

Writing tools have become more powerful and are now integrated with Siri features. Proofreading powered by Apple Intelligence happens automatically.

“We couldn’t be happier to bring you Siri AI,” says Federighi.

Siri is designed to be more conversational now, with users invited to brainstorm, request feedback, and carry out immersive explorations across Apple device formats, whether that means carrying out school research or planning a football watch party dinner. 

Siri is further able to go through the user’s phone in order to pull answers from messages, and synthesise content to create new plans and workflows, apart from sending messages to group chats. All of this can happen via voice prompts in natural language. 

On Mac, Siri is being integrated into Spotlight to help users find what they need or start new conversations and even projects with AI.

Apple’s Mick Rockwell admits there are times when users want more from Siri. 

On that note, he introduces “Siri AI,” powered by the new Apple Intelligence. It has app actions, personal context understanding, on-screen awareness, and more. It helps users find what they need, and get more done, according to him. It is also more conversational, he claims. Furthermore, there is a new dedicated Siri app, and visual intelligence features across platforms. Users can write and edit with Siri as well.

Rockwell carries out a demo to look up Suki Waterhouse concert tickets, set up a reminder for the ticket lottery, and listen to the singer’s music – all via Siri AI. 

He further shows how Siri is able to provide navigational aid by analysing the screen contents. Meanwhile, he is able to build on a shared photo album just with natural language prompts. 

Siri’s voice is now more customisable, and users will be able to adjust the pace and expressivity to match their needs. These updates extend to CarPlay and AirPods too.

Now, the part we’ve all been waiting for: AI.

Apple’s Craig Federighi notes that some are racing forward to pursue AI simply for the sake of AI, pointing out that Apple’s approach is focused on using AI to help its customers.

A new generation of Apple Intelligence is announced, with a new and more responsive Siri. Federighi acknowledges the power of Apple’s partnership with Gemini for its new models, hailing their multi-modal features and on-device capabilities. Users can look forward to higher accuracy dictation and better natural language understanding.

Personal context understanding is crucial, and is meant to help Apple users get to what they want, just by asking. Onscreen Awareness also allows Apple Intelligence to tailor its assistance. 

Federighi flags an “all new Siri” powered by this technology, and touts the privacy-first architecture.

“At Apple, we believe privacy in AI is non-negotiable,” he says.

Craig Federighi calls attention to Apple’s emphasis on privacy, encryption, and life-saving features. He now calls attention to Apple’s new trust and safety features for children. Dr. Sumbul Ahmad Desai speaks about the importance of responsible device use for children.

Raja Bose introduces child accounts for kids, packed with parental control features. Child accounts are designed to restrict content, with parents able to add more permissions as they see fit and approve children’s app download/website exploration requests. 

A Communication Safety feature blurs nudity, even on live FaceTime calls. Parents can view their children’s screen times and adjust their time allowances. Parents can also decide which apps are available to kids when they are at school, to avoid distractions.

Apple is also offering child safety resources to app developers. 

Stacey Ford talks about no enhancement being too small as Apple focuses on speed, smoothness, and fulfilling customer requests. Shubham Kedia echoes the importance of customer feedback when refining designs, and speaks about Liquid Glass updates to improve readability and depth/separation. Liquid Glass users now get more transparency settings they can adjust as per their preferences.

In macOS, users can look forward to uniform toolbars, expanded sidebars, and better colour treatment during navigation. 

Liquid Glass elements are also coming to app icons for a more aesthetic look across apps and platforms.

Apple’s Ford discusses system optimisations such as smoother animations, improved speeds (ex: app launches/files transfers/photo loading are all faster), and optimised CPU schedulers for performance-intensive workloads. She notes that iOS 27 is supported on iPhone 11 as well, making it available to more users than was the case with past releases. The Messages experience is also more seamless, even in low-internet locations. As for Search, it has been rebuilt for the major operating device operating systems. Mail also gets a new ranking system to improve accuracy.

Adding to this, Android and Windows device users can contribute to shared photo albums. Meanwhile, Cycle Tracking under Health can support users experiencing perimenopause and menopause. Maps users will get stunning, sharp details – down to light reflections and trees.

Apple’s Craig Federighi highlights Apple’s three areas of focus: platform improvements, trust & safety, and a “big leap forward” for Apple Intelligence and Siri. 

Apple’s team also announces the macOS Golden Gate.

Apple WWDC 2026 starts off with the traditional promo. This year, we’re treated to Harry Styles’ music and Apple CEO Tim Cook’s signature drawled “Good Morning!” greeting at Apple Park.

“The energy around Apple platforms has never been stronger,” he announces, while hailing the contributions of app developers.

He stresses on the company’s “personal, powerful” and easy-to-use tools. Cook also promises AI and Siri announcements.

Apple’s WWDC this year will also be of interest to those tracking significant corporate moves and business transitions. These watchers will be paying attention to John Ternus. This senior vice president of hardware engineering is set to become Apple’s next CEO, as of September. Outgoing CEO Tim Cook will transition to the role of Apple’s Executive Chairman.

Ternus’ background rooted in hardware engineering is also expected to influence Apple’s trajectory as the company gears up for its device launches—with many customers hoping to see a foldable iPhone at long last. Could WWDC drop any hints about an upcoming device? Let’s keep watching!

On June 4, Apple shared that its global App Store ecosystem facilitated over $1.4 trillion in developer billings and sales last year, citing a new study by economists at Analysis Group. As the iPhone-maker faces accusations of over-charging developers, the company noted that for more than 90% of these transactions facilitated by the App Store ecosystem, developers did not pay commissions to Apple. 

AI apps also had their moment, as 2025 saw more than 40 of the top 100 apps on the storefront featuring consumer-facing AI capabilities, per Apple. 

In January this year, Apple and Google announced that they had entered into a multi-year collaboration. Along with this development, the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology, the two tech giants shared.

“These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year,” they said in a joint statement.

According to the announcement, Apple had decided that Google’s AI provided the “most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models,” as it touted “innovative new experiences” for Apple users.

Users will be looking forward to updates that come as part of the improved operating systems, with a special focus on how maturing AI features can turn devices into more intuitive personalised monitors, all-round assistants, and aid tools. Gadget and tech watchers are anticipating launch announcements for the iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, visionOS 27.

“Let me take you back to the September of 2024 when Apple made a marketing pitch its Siri was reinvented. That meant the voice assistant could understand context, take actions across apps, and integrate with ChatGPT. The company’s ads were slick, the keynote moments were dramatic, and the message was clear: the iPhone 16 was an AI phone, and that Siri was, finally, the assistant it always should have been,” writes The Hindu’s John Xavier, but reality fell far short of this ideal.

“The tech industry has spent the last two years drowning consumers in AI hype. Every product, and every update, has been dressed up in the language of transformation and intelligence. Apple’s Siri settlement is a rare moment where that rhetoric met actual legal consequence. It won’t be the last.”

The key question for WWDC 2026 is whether or not the AI-enhanced Siri is finally ready to take the stage. 

Read the full analysis here:

Apple promised a smarter Siri. It wasn’t. Now it’s paying for it.

If public criticism and customer disappointment over the delay in releasing the AI-enhanced Siri were not enough, Apple in May agreed to pay $250 million to settle the class action lawsuit over whether Apple promoted AI capabilities that did not exist in its devices at the time of launch. The iPhone-maker will not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

However, the heavy settlement and regulatory findings over the controversial feature could lead to further scrutiny from other international consumer protection authorities.

Not much was said over delays in shipping the AI-enhanced Siri last year. This has been the case for two years and watchers tuning in tonight are expecting some confirmed news on this front at last.

Apple Intelligence enhancements and functional software upgrades for Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, and MacBook were also announced in 2025.

No major AI partnerships were announced at the time, but this has changed in 2026.

Based on Apple’s logo for this year’s developer conference, the company seems to be doubling down on its Liquid Glass feature experience. The logo reveals glimmering, halo-effect lettering with the slogan “All systems glow,” suggesting light and/or illumination-related announcements. A glowing dove-like bird icon was also featured as part of the branding.

Online forums are abuzz with a number of possible suggestions, ranging from partnerships with tech companies that have bird logos, to a new bird-themed OS or feature name. 

Either way, expect to have the answer in a few hours!

It’s been almost a year now since Apple announced its most important software update. The iPhone maker streamlined the company’s software ecosystem by unifying all of its major operating systems to version 26 in June 2025. The platform overhaul was synced with a visual redesign — the biggest since iOS 7. The Cupertino-based company unveiled its “liquid glass” transparency feature, inspired by spatial computing. The aesthetic improvement created a transparent screen experience for Apple device users.

An iPhone update gave the company’s flagship product new capabilities like Live Translation in FaceTime and Messages, in-app group chat calls, and enhanced call screening/hold assist. 

Revisit the highlights here:

Apple WWDC 2025 HIGHLIGHTS: ‘Liquid Glass’ design concept unveiled, but AI Siri needs more time