WWDC 2025, Apple’s annual builders convention, begins at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Monday. Final yr’s occasion was notable for its deal with AI, and this yr, there’s appreciable strain on the corporate to construct on its guarantees.
As in earlier years, the corporate will deal with software program updates and new applied sciences, together with the subsequent model iOS, which is rumored to have probably the most important design adjustments because the introduction of iOS 7. However iOS 19 (or 26, if different rumors concerning the new naming system are true) isn’t the one factor the corporate will announce at WWDC 2025.
Right here’s how one can watch the keynote livestream.
iOS is getting probably the most dramatic design change in over a decade
When Apple launched a significant overhaul to iOS again in 2013 with the launch of iOS 7, it felt jarring for a lot of customers with the shift from the prior skeumorphic design with gradients and real-world textures to the extra colourful, however flat, design type that mirrored Apple’s then chief design officer Jony Ive’s style for minimalism.
Now, new stories counsel that an upcoming redesign may provoke an analogous stage of response.
Reviews counsel the brand new design could have parts referencing visionOS, the software program powering Apple’s spatial computing headset, the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. If true, which means the brand new OS may function a clear interface and extra round app icons that break free from the normal sq. format in the present day.
This visible redesign might be implemented across all of Apple’s ecosystem (together with even CarPlay), based on Bloomberg, offering a extra seamless expertise for customers transferring between their completely different units.
iOS will change its naming system
In line with Bloomberg, Apple will announce a change within the naming system for iOS at this yr’s WWDC. As a substitute of asserting the subsequent model of iOS as iOS 19, Apple’s working techniques will shift to being named by yr. Which means we might be set to see the launch of iOS 26 as a substitute, alongside the OS’s for different merchandise, together with adOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26.
Apple could hold the AI information gentle this yr
Whereas it may be difficult to high the information associated to Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024, the corporate is predicted to share just a few updates on the AI entrance.
The corporate has seemingly been caught flat-footed within the AI race, making bulletins about AI capabilities that had but to ship, main even some Apple pundits to accuse the corporate of touting vaporware. Whereas Apple has launched a number of AI instruments like Picture Playground, Genmoji, Writing Instruments, Images Clear Up, and extra, its promise of an improved Siri, customized to the tip consumer and in a position to take motion throughout your apps, has been delayed.
In the meantime, Apple has turned to outdoors firms like OpenAI to offer its iPhone a lift by way of its AI capabilities. At WWDC, it could announce help for different AI chatbots, as nicely. With Jony Ive now working with Sam Altman on an AI {hardware} machine, Apple is underneath strain to compensate for AI progress.
As well as, stories counsel that Apple’s Health app could soon incorporate AI technology, which may embody a well being chatbot and generative AI insights that present customized health-related strategies based mostly on consumer knowledge. Moreover, different apps, comparable to Messages, could obtain enhancements with AI capabilities, together with a translation function and polls that supply AI-generated strategies, per 9to5Mac.
Apple will possible take advantage of various smaller OS updates that contain AI, given its underwhelming progress. Reviews counsel that these updates may embody AI-powered battery administration options and an AI-powered Shortcuts app, as an illustration.
iPhone customers could get a devoted gaming app
Bloomberg confirmed a 9to5Mac report that mentioned Apple is creating a devoted gaming app that can change the growing older Sport Heart app. The app may embody entry to Apple Arcade’s subscription-based sport retailer, plus different gaming options like leaderboards, suggestions, and methods to problem your mates. It may additionally combine with iMessage or FaceTime for distant gaming.
Updates to Mac, Watch, TV, and extra
Together with the brand new design, stories counsel that Apple’s different working techniques will get some polish, too. As an example, macOS might also see the brand new gaming app and profit from the brand new AirPods options. It’s additionally anticipated to be named macOS Tahoe, in step with Apple’s naming conference that reference California landmarks.
Apple TV could get a visible overhaul, but additionally changes to its user interface, the brand new gaming app, and different options.
AirPods to get new options
Along with Messages getting a translation function, Bloomberg reported that Apple may additionally convey a live-translate language feature to its AirPods wi-fi Bluetooth earbuds, permitting real-time translation throughout conversations. The iPhone will translate spoken phrases from one other language for the consumer and also will translate the consumer’s response again into that language.
A brand new report from 9to5Mac additionally means that AirPods may get new head gestures to enhance in the present day’s capacity to both nod or shake your head to reply to incoming calls or messages. Plus, AirPods could get options to auto-pause music after you go to sleep, a option to set off the digital camera through Digital camera Management with a contact, a studio-quality mic mode, and an improved pairing expertise in shared AirPods.
No {hardware} bulletins?
There haven’t been any rumors concerning new units, as a result of no hardware is ready for release yet, based on Bloomberg. Though it’s at all times potential that the corporate will shock us with a new Mac Pro announcement, most stories are saying that is extremely unlikely at this level.
Some stories point out that Apple might also announce help for a brand new enter machine for its Imaginative and prescient Professional: spatial controllers. The units can be motion-aware and designed with interplay in a 3D setting in thoughts, 9to5Mac says.
Bloomberg had reported in November that Apple was anticipated to announce a good residence pill in March 2025, that includes a 6-inch touchscreen and voice-activated controls. The machine was mentioned to incorporate help for Dwelling Management, Siri, and video calls, however has but to launch.