Apple WWDC 2024: Apple Intelligence, iOS 18, new Siri, iPadOS 18 and more
AI takes center stage at Apple's developer event
Apple has launched a new era of AI — as in Apple Intelligence, the company's branding for the AI-powered features coming to its various devices later this year. At WWDC 2024, Apple detailed AI-assisted tools for writing, image editing and organization that are being offered as a preview of what Apple Intelligence has to offer.
Apple Intelligence will have a fairly limited audience to start with. The features will only work on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and any Mac or iPad powered by Apple's M series chips. Older devices will be on the sidelines.
The tools Apple showcased during its developer conference add things like writing suggestions, an new Image Playground that creates graphics from prompts and Genmoji. Photo editing tools include a Magic Eraser-like feature that removes background objects from photos and also gathers up photos and videos to create a story based on your prompts.
Many Apple Intelligence features will take place on supported devices, though some tasks may be offloaded to secure Apple services. Apple insists that it won't see or store any of data related to Apple Intelligence activities.
Apple Intelligence may have been the highlight of WWDC, but it wasn't the only announcement. Here's everything Apple announced.
WWDC 2024 Biggest Announcements
- Apple Intelligence: With Apple Intelligence Apple is focusing on AI tools that understand you and context to provide practical and fun tools to help you get more done using a mix of on-device and cloud processing. It's coming to iOS 18, macOS Sierra and iPadOS 18.
- iOS 18: You'll be able to better customize your home screen and control center, with the ability to now lock apps with Face ID. Additional features include improvements to Messages, Mail and Maps, plus a big redesign for Photos.
- iPadOS 18: All of the above features for the iPhone are also coming to the iPad, which also gets its own calculator app, plus a floating tool bar across multiple built-in apps.
- macOS Sequoia: Otherwise known as macOS 15, the upcoming Mac software update will include new Continuity features for access your iPhone from your Mac and Safari upgrades that include page summaries.
- watchOS 11: Apple's smartwatch software is gaining several new fitness-focused features. Highlights include Training Load, which measures workout intensity, and the ability to pause ring progress for rest days and injuries without losing your streaks. A Vitals app collects your health metrics and warns you if something is out of whack, while interface changes improve smart stacks and Photos watch feaces.
- visionOS 2: The Vision Pro software lets you turn 2D photos into spatial photos and support for new gestures. Apple is also launching its headset in additional countries outside the U.S.
- tvOS 18: The software that powers Apple TV devices will gain a feature called InSight that lists info on actors appearing in the shows you're watching. (Any similarity to Prime Video's X-Ray feature is purely coincidental.) Subtitles can kick in automatically when you mute a show or jump back a few seconds, and dialogue audio will be enhanced.
Watch the WWDC keynote replay
The WWDC keynote is over, but you can watch the replay via the embedded video above or on YouTube. Meanwhile, we'll continue to update our blog with more details about today's announcements.