Apple WWDC 26 will be held from June 8 to 12, 2026. Apple has released the schedule for this year's WWDC through its official developer page, and it is expected to introduce major operating system updates, including iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27, at the keynote on the first day.
The core of this WWDC 26 is Siri and Apple Intelligence. While Apple heavily teased AI capabilities for the 2024 WWDC, some Siri features were delayed. Therefore, this year's event is being seen as an opportunity for Apple to reiterate its AI strategy. TechCrunch also reported that Apple foreshadowed “AI advancements” at WWDC 26.
The most discussed change is the overhaul of Siri in iOS 27. Foreign media outlets mention the possibility that Apple will transform Siri into a form closer to a conversational interface. While the existing Siri was closer to a voice assistant that handles short commands, the new Siri could shift toward more naturally connecting questions, context understanding, app launching, and information summarization. MacRumors summarized that the Siri overhaul could be a major change in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.
There is also a possibility that Siri will be offered as a separate app. Citing a Bloomberg report, The Verge stated that the new Siri in iOS 27 could include a chatbot-style interface and an option to automatically delete conversation history. This would allow users to set conversations with Siri to be automatically deleted after a certain period. This can be seen as a trend in which Apple aims to highlight privacy as a differentiator while simultaneously strengthening its AI capabilities.
The WWDC26 teaser image has also been linked to rumors of a Siri overhaul. MacRumors reported that Apple's WWDC26 graphics could hint at a new Siri interface for iOS 27. In particular, a Siri UI connected to Dynamic Island is being discussed. However, some features may be limited to devices supporting Apple Intelligence.
The AI model strategy is also a key point to watch. While Apple currently connects ChatGPT with Apple Intelligence, there is speculation that it may expand its options for external AI models in the future. In a report regarding the relationship between OpenAI and Apple, Reuters described the existing structure in which Apple has connected ChatGPT within Siri and iOS Settings. For this year's announcement, it will be important to see how Apple combines its own models, external models, and on-device AI.
iOS 27 may not be an update focused solely on AI features. Macworld reported that iOS 27 is highly likely to be introduced with a focus on the Siri overhaul and the expansion of Apple Intelligence. However, given that Apple has faced criticism in recent years regarding the gap between feature promises and release times, it is crucial to see how much of the actually deployable features it demonstrates this year.
It is highly likely that macOS 27, Vision OS 27, and watchOS 27 will also be unveiled. As WWDC is a developer event, APIs across the operating system, development tools, and changes to the app ecosystem will be introduced. In particular, a key point could be how Apple Intelligence extends beyond the iPhone to the Mac, iPad, and Vision Pro.
While the possibility of a hardware announcement is low, it is difficult to rule it out completely. Although WWDC is primarily a software event, Apple has unveiled Mac hardware at WWDC in the past. However, the current flow of rumors focuses more on iOS 27, Siri, and Apple Intelligence than on new devices.
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