WWDC 2026: Will Apple be able to deliver on its AI promises?

When Apple opens its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, the spotlight will be on the revamped Siri and when it would finally be rolled out.

For nearly two years, Apple has been promising a smarter version of Siri. At WWDC 2024, the company showcased an AI-powered assistant that could understand personal context, recognise what was happening on a user’s screen and seamlessly perform tasks across applications, making it a key part of its Apple Intelligence push.

But what followed was a series of delays. Customers were disappointed when Apple announced at WWDC 2025 that the updated Siri would be delayed by another year as the company felt that the new Siri features were not up to standards.

Adding further blows, earlier this year, Apple agreed to a $250 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit filed by customers who argued they were misled about the availability of certain Apple Intelligence features that had been highlighted in the company’s marketing. Apple denied wrongdoing, but the episode raised uncomfortable questions about a company that has long prided itself on underpromising and overdelivering.

That backdrop makes this year’s WWDC different, as for Apple, this event is more about proving progress. Since Apple first unveiled Apple Intelligence, competitors including OpenAI, Google, Microsoft and Anthropic have released increasingly capable AI assistants and tools. What was once a future-facing technology has quickly become a mainstream consumer product.

Reports suggest Apple could finally unveil many of the Siri capabilities first demonstrated in 2024. The assistant is expected to become more conversational, gain deeper access to apps and better understand a user’s context. If those features materialise, they would represent one of the most significant updates to Siri since the voice assistant debuted more than a decade ago.

What more to expect at WWDC 2026

iOS 27 focused on refinement

Unlike some previous releases, iOS 27 is not expected to bring sweeping visual changes. Instead, reports point to a release centred on stability, performance and AI integration. Apple is expected to weave Apple Intelligence deeper into the operating system while improving battery life, search and everyday usability.

A more capable iPad and Mac

The iPad’s evolution into a laptop alternative is likely to continue. Improvements to multitasking, window management and productivity tools are expected, alongside new AI features that could make workflows more efficient for professional users.

macOS is expected to receive a broad set of Apple Intelligence enhancements; with search, productivity applications and system-level functions, all likely to gain AI-powered capabilities, while the overall design is expected to remain largely familiar.

New versions of watchOS, visionOS and tvOS are also expected to be unveiled. These updates are likely to focus on ecosystem integration, smarter features and extending Apple Intelligence across more devices rather than introducing major standalone changes.

New tools for developers

Developers remain a crucial audience for WWDC. Apple is expected to introduce new frameworks and APIs that allow third-party applications to tap into Apple Intelligence, potentially broadening the reach of its AI platform far beyond Apple’s own apps.

Will there be a surprise?

WWDC is traditionally a software-first event, making major hardware launches unlikely. Yet, rumours around smart glasses, future AI devices and next-generation Macs continue to circulate.