Apple WWDC 2026 Preview: End of an Era and a Pivotal Moment for Apple Intelligence

This year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is shaping up to be an intriguing event based on my conversations with people in the industry. Below are my expectations for the major topics, from leadership changes to Apple Intelligence and the much-rumoured foldable iPhone.

Tim Cook’s Swansong

A major talking point ahead of the event is undoubtedly Tim Cook. With his transition to the role of executive chairman scheduled for 1 September 2026, this may be his final official keynote as CEO.

I expect that he’ll deliver a confident and perhaps emotional opening to WWDC reflecting on the elements that have defined his tenure. An obvious starting point is the company’s long-term commitment to privacy, aligned with a focus on the scale, stability and consistency of Apple devices, platforms and, more recently, services.

I also expect that Apple’s many initiatives in health and well-being, in which Tim Cook has taken a significant personal interest, will be called out, as well as a nod to the company’s environmental and sustainability goals. Furthermore, Tim Cook may seek to outline the vision for Apple Intelligence, given that this has been a challenge over the past 18 months.

The spotlight will inevitably also turn to incoming CEO John Ternus, and it would make sense for him to take a leading role in presenting the major platform updates this year.

The Siri Reboot: Delivering Agentic AI

Everything points to the centrepiece of the software announcements at WWDC being a completely re-engineered Siri. The virtual assistant has been a thorn in Apple’s side for several years, and after the misfire in 2024 when the company made some big promises but had to backtrack a year later, it seems inevitable that Apple will rebound with a major update at WWDC 2026. This will undoubtedly be pitched together with a slew of agentic AI capabilities, as seems to be the dominant trend this year.

The elephant in the room will be Apple’s partnership with Google, which was announced in January 2026. The firms stated that “Apple and Google have entered into a multiyear collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year”. We strongly doubt that Apple will position the development as being “Siri powered by Gemini”, but Google’s foundational models are sure to play an important role.

Beyond this, I’ve always felt that Apple has a strong opportunity to use the immense amount of personal data securely stored on a user’s iPhone. Crucially, some people will have owned several generations of iPhones, with all the data being seamlessly passed from one device to the next and, in most cases, backed up to iCloud. Apple could mine that data to deliver some impressive results. Furthermore, in classic Apple fashion, we bet this will be delivered with a focus on privacy and on-device processing.

Some of the key features I’ll be looking out for are listed below. In many cases, these are already table stakes for rival platforms, but they’ll be key to Apple’s progress in this area.

• Providing context and being able to better understand what’s happening in real time on the user’s screen.
• Completing multiple requests in a single, continuous query.
• Siri integration in specific functions, such as a “Siri mode” for key apps and functions, like the camera.
• New AI functions for third-party developers. Often, access is initially limited to Apple’s own applications rather than offering APIs for third-party developers. Changing tack could give Apple a competitive advantage, with the added benefit of reducing some regulatory pressure.
• AI features that could be used in smart glasses. This is a logical evolution for Apple, and it’s the direction rivals are following. However, it could be too early for Apple to show its hand.
• Integration with other platforms beyond OpenAI’s ChatGPT, including Google Gemini and Claude.

We’ve also heard rumours that a dedicated Siri app or chat bot will be unveiled and integrated into the Dynamic Island. This would allow users to interact with Siri more seamlessly, akin to the experience offered by ChatGPT, Gemini Live and others.

In keeping with tradition, I doubt that there’ll be a major hardware launch at WWDC. However, some speculation points to Apple announcing a Mac mini powered by its latest M5 Pro chip. This would align well, as it would offer a platform for developers wanting to test Siri-integrated workflows, which is likely to be an important part of the broader keynote, as outlined above.

Performance and Refinement

I also expect a focus on foundational elements such as performance, battery life and system stability. These aren’t the sexiest topics for a major event, but they’re likely to be framed in the context of Apple’s tightly integrated stack, with its custom silicon being designed to work seamlessly with its software. It’s a story Apple has told many times, but it remains one of its biggest strengths.

Apple is likely to announce further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design language, which was introduced at WWDC last year. Expect efforts to make the user interface more readable, fluid and consistent on different devices, from the Apple Watch to the Mac.

Laying the Groundwork for the Foldable iPhone and Touch-Screen Macs

Although we don’t expect much hardware on stage, all eyes will be on iOS developments as people scan for clues about Apple’s readiness for a foldable iPhone and perhaps a touch-screen MacBook.

Manufacturers of foldable phones must consider how they offer multitasking on a device with two displays. Google has invested heavily in addressing this challenge on Android, and Apple will face the same hurdle. I expect to see previews of dynamic, adaptive app layouts that make it easy to switch from a smaller external screen to a larger internal display, although they probably won’t be articulated explicitly. Other elements might include context-aware sidebars and better side-by-side multitasking. This is something Apple has already developed for iPadOS, and it would make sense to bring these elements to iOS.

I’ll also be looking for evidence that a touch-screen Mac might be around the corner. If Apple is planning to go in this direction, announcing touch support at WWDC would allow developers to prepare.

Smart Home and Health Evolution

Apple’s smart home ambitions continue to circulate in the rumour mill. A hardware unveiling is unlikely, but we expect significant enhancements to the HomeKit stack. Improved integration of Siri may bring more natural-language interactions to home automation, with the Matter standard remaining the crucial bridge for broader industry interoperability.

I expect health features will receive another boost. These might be presented in the context of watchOS, with on-device AI capabilities designed to track, analyse and predict health metrics.

Conclusion

History may reflect on WWDC 2026 as a key moment for Apple. The company is embarking on a rare transition in leadership at the same time as trying to convince developers and investors that it now has a clear road map for agentic, on-device AI. These areas are critical to Apple’s future, and any missteps could have significant implications.

FDM CCS Insight will be attending WWDC and covering all the key announcements. Stay tuned for the full event report and other updates.