It’s official: Apple’s 2024 Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC24) will kick off on June 10, 2024, with the same old slate of main software program launch bulletins for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and extra.
Apple introduced the main points at the moment, however there aren’t too many surprises this time round. The convention shall be held in the identical on-line format that’s been the norm for the reason that world well being pandemic pressured Apple to maneuver away from in-person occasions. The record of software program releases — iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18 will seemingly be joined by visionOS 2.0 this yr, however it can in any other case seemingly be the identical dog-and-pony present as ordinary.
Whereas WWDC was as soon as a solely in-person affair — and an expensive one, at that — one of many good issues to return out of the COVID-19 pandemic was Apple’s realization that an internet occasion was a significantly better solution to open it as much as many extra builders, each by eliminating the constraints of packing everybody into one place, and the price of charging a registration charge and working a “lottery” for tickets.
After social distancing and lockdown restrictions had been relaxed, Apple started providing an in-person element to the WWDC keynote, however this was principally simply a chance to collect collectively within the Apple Park Customer Middle and watch the identical pre-recorded presentation on an enormous display, adopted by a tour of the campus and some different “particular actions.”
Whereas WWDC is a weeklong occasion for builders of all stripes — it truly runs from June 10–14 — what most of us shall be tuning in for is the keynote that kicks off the week with Apple’s large software program bulletins.
The thrill this yr is that every one these updates shall be strongly centered on new generative AI options since that’s all the fashion nowadays. Actually, the information has been so centered on AI that we haven’t heard an excessive amount of else about what to anticipate from iOS 18 et al.
Past the software program, Apple typically provides some {hardware} to the combo, though not all the time. The Imaginative and prescient Professional stole the present finally yr’s WWDC23, however we additionally noticed Apple’s M2 Extremely chip launched in a brand new Mac Studio and the primary Apple silicon-powered Mac Professional, together with the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air. WWDC22 equally gave us the primary M2 Macs — a redesigned 13-inch MacBook Air and what would develop into the final of 13-inch MacBook Professional fashions.
Then again, WWDC21 had no {hardware} bulletins in any respect, and WWDC20 was used solely to announce Apple silicon, with none particular information on the Macs that it might ultimately energy. These didn’t arrive till later that yr.
This yr, we’re not anticipating something important in {hardware}. Apple has some new iPads on deck, however they’re anticipated to reach someday in April, and we’re nonetheless a great distance away from an M4 chip. At most, we would see the M3 Extremely present up for Apple’s highest-end Macs, however the information on that’s so quiet that it seemingly gained’t be greater than a minor refresh — if it occurs in any respect.
Nonetheless, in case there was any doubt that AI shall be taking middle stage this yr, Apple senior vice chairman Greg “Joz” Joswiak provided a not-so-subtle trace on Twitter/X that this yr’s occasion could be “Completely Unbelievable”—caps and all.
In fact, Apple is not any stranger to AI and machine-learning options in iOS. Final yr’s Stay Voicemail Transcription in iOS 17 is just the latest instance of a set of behind-the-scenes instruments that return to not less than iOS 10’s on-device photograph recognition capabilities.
Nonetheless, these AI instruments have by no means been as distinguished as competing initiatives like Google’s Magic Editor, so Apple clearly realizes it must seize some extra mindshare, if nothing else.
What we’ll see from Apple within the AI area is anybody’s guess at this level. The rumor mill is alive with all types of concepts and hypothesis, a few of which can have come from sources inside Apple. The corporate is reportedly in talks with Google to include Gemini into the system in some way, and there’s good cause to imagine that we’ll see some Siri get smarter and different quality-of-life enhancements like mechanically generated Apple Music playlists and the power to summarize notes and assist write replies in messages. Nonetheless, some analysts recommend Apple is more likely to take child steps in a few of these areas to make sure it doesn’t compromise person privateness and safety.
One of the vital doubtful claims to floor not too long ago is that Apple will unveil a brand new AI App Retailer at WWDC. This concept seems to be based mostly extra on hypothesis by business analysts than on any stable proof from Cupertino. It appears a bit odd that Apple would open a definite App Retailer solely to host AI apps, any greater than it might create a devoted “Sport Retailer,” so we wouldn’t put an excessive amount of stake on this one.
It’s actually believable that Apple is encouraging builders to create new generative AI experiences and certain discover a solution to spotlight these on the prevailing App Retailer, however a devoted retailer solely for AI apps doesn’t really feel like one thing Apple would do. In spite of everything, there are already key AI apps on the App Retailer at the moment — ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot, amongst them — together with many “regular” apps that incorporate AI options. Selling AI apps makes lots of sense; creating a synthetic division by placing them in a unique retailer doesn’t.