Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote saw the unveiling of iPadOS 27, MacOS Golden Gate and a redesigned Siri... now called Siri AI, obviously. While the updates aren't exactly revolutionary, it seems Apple's catching up on AI, while introducing some interesting touches of its own.
The headline news is that we're finally getting the iPhone update that Apple's been promising for two years now: a redesigned Siri with a dedicated app. Siri AI will be able to handle multi-step tasks, maintain context and act more like a chatbot than a simple voice assistant thanks Google's Gemini.
Siri AI will sit directly within the Dynamic Island on iPhones and will be able to access the core iOS apps to search for relevant information and reduce the need to manually move between apps. A public beta will launch in July with the stable launch coming in September alongside the expected release of iPhone 18.
There's just one hitch that means a very lage number of users will have to wait longer.
Siri AI won't initially be available in the European Union on iPads or iPhones, and it won't be available on any device in China.
In the EU, the reason is the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires operating systems to be opened to third-party developers. Apple argues that this would force it to compromise security and privacy features. It says it's working on finding a solution.
In China, the delay is tied to government approval processes for foreign AI models and cloud infrastructure.
Apple also announced a batch of Apple Intelligence updates, including improvements to its Image Playground app and AI photo editing in the camera app.
That includes the introduction of Spatial Reframing inspired by VisionOS. This will allow photos to be reframed after they're taken by tapping on the subject and shifting the perspective, with generative AI filling in any missing detail.
Apple WWDC 2026 announcements in brief
- Siri AI : Complete redesign to create a conversational assistant powered by Google’s Gemini. Features include contextual awareness, screen-based actions, and a dedicated Siri app.
- Liquid Glass design tweaks : Improved readability, transparency slider, unified toolbars and refined app icons.
- iOS 27 : Enhanced Siri integration, including in the Dynamic Island and new Siri Mode in the Camera app. New personalisation features. New tools in Image Playground. AI Spatial Reframing for photo editing. Child safety tools will allow more control over screen time and how kids use their phones.
- macOS Golden Gate : Also gets deeper Siri AI integration, including pop-up assistant. Intel devices won't get the new OS.
- watchOS : Incremental updates, including Siri AI support and new health features, including for women's health tracking and Workout Buddy. Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra and SE 2 won't get the new OS.
- AirPods : Custom EQ for user-controlled sound profiles.
You can watch the full Apple WWDC keynote presentation live below, or scroll down for our live updates and summaries as they happened.
Also see our guides to the best iPad for video editing and the best MacBook for students.
What is WWDC and what do we expect?
WWDC stands for the Worldwide Developers Conference. It's Apple’s annual event where the tech giant showcases upcoming software updates and developer tools. The whole WWDC 2026 runs until 12 June, but Apple’s biggest announcements are expected in today's keynote presentation.
As for what's expected, the biggest updates are likely to involve AI. In particular, we expect to finally have news on the launch of a redesigned Siri, Apple's built-in voice-controlled assistant, with Gemini-powered AI. It's expected that this will include a new Siri chat bubble in the Dynamic Island on iPhones, and there are also rumours that Apple could launch a dedicated Siri app.
We could see also the announcement of support for Google Cast in iOS, bill-splitting in Apple Wallet and design tweaks to Liquid Glass. The iOS Camera app may come in for a redesign, including a Siri mode for AI features, while Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple might announce AI wallpaper generation and a redesign of the Image Playground app.
Things are kicking off with Liquid Glass updates, including the addition of a new slider allowing you to decide just how frosted you want the UI's glass effect to look. The sidebar will be expanded on MacOS – we also have confirmation that the name of the next MacOS will Golden Gate.
Another design update is that Liquid Glass elements will give app icons more depth.
A handy update for connectivity. iPhones will get smarter at deciding when to automatically switch from a WiFi connection that goes out of range when a better option's available, saving you from having to manually switch when you move between rooms, or from the cafe to the street.
We're also told that iPhone apps will launch 30% faster and with smoother animations.
New health features in iOS 27 and watchOS 11 include a strong focus on advanced period tracking powered by Apple Intelligence. Features include predictive cycle insights and fertility window forecasting.
Apple's dedicating quite a long segment of the WWDC keynote to child safety features. New Child Accounts will give parents more control, including the ability to assign time allowances and to schedule what apps are accessible to their kids on different days and for how long. Parents will also have more visibility of how children are using their devices.
For developers, new tools will allow app functions to vary according to a user's age.
Here comes the Apple Intelligence news.
Apple says some companies are ploughing ahead blindly developing AI for its own sake. Not Apple of course. It wants to make AI that's "truly helpful", says Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering.
It's over to Mike for the headline news that we predicted: the new Siri. Apple's assistant has been completely redesigned, and it even has a bold and exciting new name. Behold... Siri AI.
The new Siri AI will live in the Dynamic Island on iPhones. It will employ app actions and have more on-screen awareness.
So Siri AI will be able to see what you're looking at on your iPhone and answer questions. It will also be able to populate recent photos, distinguish people in them and categorise them in an album.
The update should reduce the need to manually move between apps manually since it will be able to search through the main iPhone apps like Photos, Maps, and Mail to answer queries.
Android users will be keen to point out that some of this sounds much like what Google Gemini does already. So far, I'm feeling that Siri AI is more of a catchup to rivals than something that's truly breaking new ground.
Another rumour that's turned out to be spot on. There will be a dedicated Siri app.
The iPhone camera will have a 'Siri Mode' that lets you ask questions about images and do things like take a photo of a food to supposedly get nutritional details, or take a photo of a restaurant bill to split it with friends using Apple Watch.
Siri AI will launch in English only, but we're told other languages will be rolled out quickly.
The roll out will start in September alongside the general release of iOS 27.
Great news for rushed reporters like me struggling to keep up with the speed of Apple's announcements! Apple Intelligence will power Automatic Proofreading across iPhone, iPad and Mac.
It will also be able to automatically organise Safari tabs into categories.
Apple Intelligence Shortcuts are described as a "super power" that lets you create and run automations using natural language prompts, with Siri AI and Apple Intelligence handling the setup, context and execution across apps.
Apple Intelligence will power Spatial Reframing for photo editing using on-device spatial models and generative AI . You'll be able to tap and drag on the subject in a photo to shift the perspective as if you were relocating the camera. It's like we can "go back in time and adjust my frame in the moment I took the shot".
There will be other improvements for AI retouching of images, including better object removal in Clean Up and generative extend. Image Playground is getting updates for AI image generating too.
Siri AI WON'T be available in the EU on iPad OS or iOS, or at all in China
That excludes a LOT of people.
Craig claims the reason he always wears a blue shirt in presentations is because he uses Apple Intelligence to do his clothes shopping.
In his sign off, Tim Cook confirms that the Siri AI public beta will launch in July ahead of the full stable release in September 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 launch.
And that's it, after just an hour and 20 minutes, the Apple WWDC 2026 keynote is concluding with a musical tribute to iPhone apps from Erick the Architect.
