What to Expect from Apple at WWDC 26: Siri AI, iOS 27, Liquid Glass, and More

Apple's WWDC 26: Everything You Need to Know Before the Keynote

Every June, Apple opens the doors to one of the tech world's most anticipated events: the Worldwide Developers Conference, better known as WWDC. While the weeklong event is officially designed for the developers who build apps across Apple's sprawling ecosystem of operating systems, it has evolved into a massive moment for everyday Apple consumers as well. WWDC 26, kicking off on Monday, June 9, promises to be one of the most consequential Apple developer conferences in recent memory — and that's not hyperbole. With a heavy focus on artificial intelligence, a dramatically revamped Siri, sweeping updates to iOS 27, a refinement of the controversial Liquid Glass design language, and the possibility of surprise hardware announcements, this year's WWDC keynote at 10 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time could reshape how the world thinks about Apple in the AI era.

A Brand-New, AI-Powered Siri Takes Center Stage

If there is one announcement that will define WWDC 26, it is almost certainly the unveiling of a completely reimagined, AI-powered Siri. Apple's voice assistant has long been the subject of criticism, consistently trailing competitors like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and more recently the rapidly advancing crop of large language model-based AI assistants. That era appears to be coming to an end in a significant way.

Earlier this year, Apple and Google jointly announced a landmark collaboration in which Google's Gemini foundational models would be used to power a new and dramatically smarter version of Siri. This announcement, made as far back as January, sent ripples through the tech industry — and set expectations sky-high for what Apple would reveal at WWDC 26. The new Siri is expected to be the undisputed star of the keynote, representing Apple's most ambitious bet on AI to date.

Importantly, users should not expect a Gemini-branded experience showing up on their iPhones. Apple's approach is characteristically seamless and private-label: the Gemini foundational models will work under the hood to power a revamped Siri and the broader Apple Intelligence platform. The result should be a voice assistant that is exponentially more capable, context-aware, and conversational than anything Apple has offered before — all while feeling distinctly like an Apple product.

Apple Intelligence Gets a Major Upgrade

Beyond Siri itself, the overall Apple Intelligence platform is expected to receive substantial upgrades at WWDC 26. Apple Intelligence, introduced at last year's WWDC, represented Apple's first serious foray into integrating generative AI capabilities directly into its operating systems. Features like AI-generated writing tools, photo editing enhancements, and smarter notification summaries were part of the initial rollout — but the reception was mixed, with many users feeling the features were underwhelming compared to the competition.

With Gemini now powering the engine, Apple Intelligence at WWDC 26 is expected to leap forward. Deeper integration across apps, smarter on-device reasoning, and more natural conversational AI interactions are all anticipated. Apple is also likely to demonstrate how Apple Intelligence works across devices — from iPhone and iPad to Mac — creating a more cohesive and powerful AI ecosystem than ever before.

iOS 27: What New Features Are Coming?

No WWDC keynote is complete without a major iOS reveal, and WWDC 26 will be no different. iOS 27 is expected to build on the foundation laid by iOS 26, with AI integration woven more deeply into the operating system than before. Here are some of the key areas where iOS 27 is expected to make an impact:

• Smarter Siri integration across native apps: With the new AI-powered Siri, expect tighter and more intelligent integration with Calendar, Messages, Mail, Maps, and third-party apps.
• Enhanced personalization features: iOS 27 is expected to learn user habits more effectively and offer proactive suggestions across the system.
• Improved multitasking and productivity tools: Refinements to how users manage apps, notifications, and workflows are likely on the table.
• Privacy and security enhancements: Apple never misses an opportunity to push its privacy-first messaging, and iOS 27 will likely introduce new safeguards, particularly around AI data processing.

As always, iOS 27 will be previewed at WWDC 26 and made available to developers immediately after the keynote, with a public beta arriving later in the summer and a full release expected in September alongside new iPhone hardware.

Liquid Glass Design Gets Refined

Apple's Liquid Glass design language, introduced as a sweeping visual overhaul of its operating systems, generated significant debate among users and designers when it debuted. The translucent, fluid aesthetic represented Apple's most dramatic visual departure in years — and while many praised its ambition, others found it inconsistent or difficult to read in certain contexts. At WWDC 26, Apple is widely expected to address community feedback by refining and polishing the Liquid Glass design system.

These refinements are likely to improve legibility, consistency across apps, and overall visual hierarchy — making the design feel more mature and deliberate while preserving its distinctive character. Developers will also receive updated Human Interface Guidelines to help them implement Liquid Glass in their own apps more effectively.

John Ternus and Possible Hardware Surprises

WWDC is traditionally a software-focused event, but Apple has occasionally used the keynote stage to debut new hardware. This year, there is notable speculation surrounding Apple hardware chief John Ternus potentially playing a more prominent role — potentially hinting at or revealing new products. Whether this amounts to a surprise Mac announcement, updated iPad hardware, or something else entirely remains to be seen.

Apple has been on a strong hardware trajectory, with the M-series chips continuing to push performance boundaries. Any hardware reveal at WWDC 26 would be a bonus on top of what is already shaping up to be a landmark software event.

Why WWDC 26 Could Be Apple's Most Important Keynote in Years

The convergence of a rebuilt Siri powered by Gemini, a more capable Apple Intelligence platform, iOS 27, refined Liquid Glass design, and potential hardware surprises makes WWDC 26 arguably the most consequential Apple developer conference since the original introduction of the App Store. Apple is under real pressure to demonstrate that it can compete at the frontier of AI — and this keynote is its most important opportunity yet to make that case to developers, consumers, and investors alike. Whatever happens on Monday morning at 10 a.m. PDT, the tech world will be watching closely.