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ADVERTISEMENTAll eyes will be on Apple on Monday as its World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) returns to its pristine stage in California, where the company is expected to unveil its latest technology and devices.
It comes at a pivotal time for the company, which faces repercussions from the Trump administration’s tariff proposal and competition from other tech companies to reign supreme in the battle for artificial intelligence (AI).
These are some of the rumours of what could be announced.
AI
Last year, Apple announced the rollout of Apple Intelligence to its devices and the incorporation of ChatGPT into its Siri assistant. On Monday, we could see some upgrades to its current offerings, perhaps with Apple working with other AI chatbots.
The recent announcement from Sam Altman that OpenAI is working with former Apple executive Jony Ive on an AI hardware device is no doubt putting pressure on Apple to catch up.
Meanwhile, the race to incorporate AI more into smartphones is on.
Samsung is reportedly partnering with AI start-up Perplexity to use its app and AI assistant in its Galaxy phones, according to Bloomberg. Motorola has also incorporated AI into its new Razr flip phone.
However, AI could be used in Apple’s Health app to provide personalised health suggestions based on user data, according to speculation.
Another theory is that AI will be baked into some small OS updates, and could see new features for things like better battery management.
“While there is no clear leader in the AI race as it’s still early days, arguably Apple’s efforts are not resonating with customers,” tech analyst Paolo Pescatore told Euronews Next.
“This [AI] is a marathon and not a sprint, so there is time, but much more work needs to be done under the hood. Apple needs to tread carefully not to frustrate and disappoint its loyal base of iPhone users,” he added.
A gaming app for iPhone users
According to Bloomberg, Apple is developing a dedicated app for video games that would exist separately from the App Store. It will replace the Game Centre app, and could allow access to Apple Arcade’s subscription-based game store, plus other gaming features such as leaderboards.
iOS name change
One of the biggest announcements will be the change in the naming systems for iOS, according to reports by Bloomberg. New iOS versions will be labelled by year, so we could see the launch of iOS 26 on Monday.
Apple’s iOS could also see a redesign, with reports speculating on a transparent interface.
Translating AirPods
Apple could also introduce a live-translate language feature to its AirPods, according to Bloomberg.
This would allow real-time translation during conversations.
What we can and cannot expect
“While all attention will be focused on Apple Intelligence, Siri, and other features, its relentless focus on ease of use and seamless interaction across all Apple devices should remain its top priority,” said Pescatore.
Apple’s large user base puts it in an enviable position, but the company must make some tough decisions on whether it continues relying on building in-house or partnering with other services, he added.
But Pescatore said he did not think we would see the elephant in the room – the Trump administration tariffs – being mentioned.
“With the eagerly awaited new iPhone later in the year, and how [tariffs] will impact future sales. Users are not buying into smartphones due to AI; it is not a sought-after feature for now,” he said.
But we will know more at the WWDC event, which goes live at 19:00 CET. You can watch the announcements as they unfold on Apple’s YouTube channel.
