WWDC 2024: The Year of AI

Apple's 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference will be held June 10–14, with the keynote address being delivered on June 10 at 10 a.m. PDT. We can expect to hear about iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, and watchOS 11 at the keynote, but sometimes, there are other surprises in store! This year, it looks like the WWDC will be all about generative artificial intelligence, how Apple will incorporate this new and innovative technology into their software, and what the future of Apple AI will look like! Let's go over everything we know about WWDC 2024.

iOS 18 & macOS 15: The AI Update

In the last year alone, AI has proliferated in the media and culture. With the popularity of generative AI like ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Midjourney, it is no surprise that Apple also has AI plans in the works

That's why this particular software update is rumored to be massive. In a shareholder meeting back in February, Tim Cook said that Apple plans to "break new ground" and has been investing a "tremendous amount of time and effort" into AI. That was all but confirmed in a not-so-subtle hint given by Greg Joswiak, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at Apple, in a tweet on Tuesday. 

Discover your iPhone's hidden features

Get a daily tip (with screenshots and clear instructions) so you can master your iPhone in just one minute a day.

The tweet itself shares a colorful graphic displaying the logo for the 2024 WWDC, a swirling holograph of colors that look markedly similar to Siri's, telling everyone to mark their calendars for June 10–14. He writes, "It’s going to be Absolutely Incredible!" The capitalization of the last two words is what's known as an Easter egg, a hint that Apple likes to give about what might be coming next. The only thing left to speculate about is what that means for iOS 18 and what exactly generative AI might look like on an iPhone or Mac.

The Future of Siri AI

Siri has been an example of what AI assistants can do for years. However, with the incoming incorporation of AI across Apple devices and platforms, Siri is likely in for a massive update. It is no accident that the colors of the WWDC 2024 branding are similar to those of the Siri icon. Perhaps Siri will get smarter, better able to answer complex questions, and discern subtext than she currently is. Perhaps she will work within native apps like Photos, and you can ask her to erase a subject or remove it from the background. There's a lot of room to speculate, and all the rumors are getting people pretty excited for the event. 

RCS Support for Messages

Aside from AI, the biggest news for iOS 18 is that Apple plans to support RCS messages. In Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter back in November, he announced that Apple would embrace RCS messages after a long battle against adopting the standard for more than a year. Using RCS means that iPhone and Android users can send each other larger files and communicate more seamlessly in group chats and text over Wi-Fi. This is a big win for iPhone users with Android best friends and family members. It does pose a question about the green and blue texts and whether, with the incorporation of RCS messaging, the color distinction will go away. That would certainly be a huge adjustment! 

Home Screen Updates

Gurman has also spearheaded some rumors about potential upgrades to Home Screen customization. We are all familiar with the press-and-hold wiggle system that Apple currently has in place. While the Home Screen would still snap icons into place on an invisible grid, according to these rumors, with iOS 18, you would be able to leave blank spaces or blank rows and columns. This is great news for people who like to customize their Home Screens or people who just want to have less icons on any given screen. 

No More Apple ID?

Sources close to Apple reported to Mac Rumors in February that Apple is considering replacing the Apple ID name with "Apple Account." Last year, with Mac Sonoma, they changed "System Preferences" to "System Settings", so the Apple ID could be next for a rebrand.

Accessibility Updates

Another interesting rumor suggests that Apple could update Accessibility with several new options. One of these is called Adaptive Voice Shortcuts. This would allow users to map a specific verbal phrase to an accessibility feature. Users would create a custom statement and choose the accessibility setting they wish to use with said phrase. Adaptive Voice Shortcuts gives users the ability to toggle existing accessibility features like Voice Control, VoiceOver, etc. 

Additionally, Apple might expand support for custom font sizes on the Mac. Custom font sizes allow users to choose the size of the font for individual apps to set their preferred size for reading. Currently, custom font sizes are only available on five apps on the Mac, including Calendar, Finder, Mail, and Messages. With macOS 15, the feature will expand to Books, News, Stocks, Tips, and Weather.

Fine-Tuning the Vision Pro

Now that the Vision Pro has been available for a year, Tim Cook confirmed that it will launch internationally, and this might roll out during the conference. Rumors abound that we'll be receiving VisionOS 2.0 at WWDC 2024, which will bring a host of updates after feedback from the initial launch. The Vision Pro is also rumored to be testing drawing apps like Freeform to work with the Apple Pencil, so we may see increased utility for this cool device that currently lacks a clear role within the culture. 

Hardware

As far as hardware goes, Apple doesn't typically release new Macs, iPhones, or iPads at the WWDC. However, with the announcement of the Vision Pro at WWDC 2023, there's no telling what might be unveiled at the conference. A few devices are about due for an update, and some others are rumored to be in the works. If Apple does unveil hardware, there are a few potential devices it might be. 

iPad Pro &d iPad Air

Gurman wrote in his newsletter at the beginning of March that we might be looking at a springtime release date for new iPads. We could potentially get a larger 12.9-inch iPad Air with an M2 chip, two new iPad Pros with an M3 chip and OLED displays, a new Magic Keyboard, and an Apple Pencil. If these iPads and accessories don't drop in April, they might be released during WWDC 2024.

Air Pods

While the Air Pods are not rumored to receive any major hardware updates or overhauls, a massive software update is rumored to roll out. Gurman writes that Apple is readying a major software-based development with hearing aid functionality. Since the WWDC is all about new software, we might just see Apple attempt to take on the multibillion-dollar hearing aid industry, to which Gurman remarks, "It could be the start of something big."

WWDC 2024: When & How to Watch

The WWDC 2024 keynote will be given at 10 a.m. PDT on June 10. This year, the conference will include in-person events, but the keynote will be streamed online for anyone who wants to watch it live. Here's how to watch WWDC 2024:

On Mac:

• The Apple TV app is a stock app on Mac. On the day of the keynote event, open the app to watch the livestream.

• On a Mac running macOS version 10.15 or later, open the App Store and download the Apple Developer app. On the day of the keynote event, open the app to watch the livestream.

• Open Safari and visit Apple’s Event page. Apple should update its Events page with details a few days before WWDC begins.

• Visit Apple's official YouTube channel. Apple will add the keynote to the top of its page before WWDC begins.

On PC:

• Download the Edge browser by Microsoft for Windows 10 users. Then, on the day of the Keynote, visit Apple’s Event page or the official YouTube channel, and you’ll be able to live stream the Keynote event as easily as any Mac user. Some devices may be able to stream the event using a recent version of Chrome or Firefox.

On Apple TV, iPhone, or iPad:

• The Apple TV app is a stock app on the Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad. On the day of the keynote event, open the app to watch the livestream.

• On iPhone, iPad, or the Apple TV HD or later, open the App Store and download the Apple Developer app. On the day of the keynote event, open the app and navigate to the WWDC tab to watch the livestream.

Live Coverage:

• iPhone Life: Be sure to visit iPhone Life on the day of the event for our coverage of the WWDC Keynote. 

• Post Announcement Podcast: We’ll also be recording a special podcast episode following the WWDC Keynote. We’ll cover all the new things we’re excited about and any parts that didn’t live up to expectations.

What are you hoping to see at this year's WWDC? Comment below!