WWDC 2026: Apple’s AI, Siri, and software updates

The next-generation Siri is also rumoured to evolve beyond a traditional voice assistant. Reports suggest Apple may offer Siri as a standalone app with capabilities similar to today’s conversational AI chatbots. It is expected to be deeply integrated across Apple devices and apps while also supporting selected third-party AI services. Details regarding how this might work are scarce at the moment, so it will be very intriguing to see how Apple might pull this off and implement things.

For Apple, WWDC 2026 could be one of its most important developer conferences in years. The company is under growing pressure to prove that it can compete meaningfully in the generative AI race while maintaining its signature focus on privacy, ecosystem integration, and user experience.

iOS 27 – Optimised for Foldable?

Since Apple is widely expected to debut its first foldable iPhone later this year, it’s no surprise that iOS 27 will have features optimised for this new foldable form factor.

According to Bloomberg, iOS 27 could represent one of Apple’s most significant software evolutions yet. The update is said to introduce a more iPad-like interface capable of running two apps side-by-side, with several productivity-focused features from iPadOS potentially making their way to the iPhone.

Rather than introducing another major visual redesign following last year’s overhaul, iOS 27 will reportedly focus more heavily on refining the overall software experience. Apple is said to be prioritising performance improvements, stability enhancements, bug fixes, and reducing software bloat across the operating system.

The move suggests Apple is preparing iOS for a new generation of devices beyond the traditional slab smartphone. While Apple’s first foldable iPhone is widely expected to adopt a book-style design, other reports suggest that the company is also considering a flip-style form factor.

macOS 27 – Ushering in The Era of Touchscreen Mac?

Similar to iOS 27, Apple will focus heavily on performance and stability improvements for macOS amid growing criticisms surrounding the Liquid Glass redesign.

Beyond optimisation work, Apple is also reportedly preparing touchscreen support for macOS ahead of the launch of a rumoured high-end MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen – expected later this year or early 2027. The touchscreen functionality is said to complement the traditional keyboard and trackpad experience rather than replace it entirely.

If accurate, the move would mark a dramatic shift in Apple’s long-standing stance against touch-enabled Macs. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the change stems from Apple’s “long-term observation of iPad user behaviour,” where touch interactions have been shown to enhance both productivity and overall usability.

Before getting too excited about the possibility of new Mac hardware at WWDC 2026, however, it’s worth noting that such announcements still appear unlikely. Apple, like much of the wider tech industry, continues to face mounting pressure from the ongoing global memory chip shortage. Announcing new Mac models now would only place additional strain on an already constrained supply chain.

visionOS – Pivoting to Smart Glasses?

Compared to Apple’s other software platforms, visionOS is still relatively young. It was specifically developed for the Vision Pro to power spatial computing experiences such as virtual displays, immersive apps, and Spatial Gallery.

However, weak consumer reception to the Vision Pro and growing competition from rivals entering the smart glasses market reportedly led Apple to scale back its development of the Vision Pro lineup and redirect resources towards lighter, more portable wearable devices.

Reports suggest Apple is now developing a version of visionOS tailored for smart glasses. Even so, recently introduced visionOS 26 features, such as Spatial Widgets and Travel Mode, may offer early clues about the type of experiences Apple intends to bring to future wearable devices.

Apple is also rumoured to be evaluating at least four different smart glasses designs, with an announcement potentially arriving later this year or in early 2027.

WWDC 2026 could provide some hints of Apple’s new direction for its spatial computing strategy. For now, it seems to be exploring more mainstream wearable form factors that could integrate AI and augmented reality into everyday life.