WWDC 2024 Recap: Apple unveils iOS 18, introduces Apple Intelligence AI, and additional innovations

During the recent keynote at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, a plethora of exciting updates and features were unveiled, all of which are slated for release in the upcoming major software rollouts scheduled for the autumn of this year. The forthcoming iterations of Apple’s operating systems, namely iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and watchOS 11, are set to introduce a host of significant enhancements.

One of the headline features is the integration of Rich Communication Services (RCS), which promises to elevate the messaging experience for users. Additionally, Apple announced the debut of a brand-new Passwords application, designed to streamline password management across devices.

The iPhone and iPad are also receiving a redesigned Calculator application, which has been reimagined to offer a more intuitive and user-friendly interface. Moreover, Apple’s suite of software will be enriched with a variety of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, courtesy of the newly introduced “Apple Intelligence” framework. This system is expected to permeate various aspects of the Apple ecosystem, bringing smarter, more personalized experiences to users.

For those who missed the live broadcast of the WWDC 2024 announcements, this summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key points and developments shared during the event.

Apple Intelligence

At this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced an ambitious plan to infuse its operating systems with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities through a new initiative called “Apple Intelligence.” This generative AI system is set to be integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, offering users a suite of practical AI-powered tools for everyday use.

Among the features introduced is a set of new writing aids designed to assist users with tasks such as rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing content in emails and messages. Additionally, Apple is venturing into the realm of creative AI with functionalities that enable users to generate original emojis and images. A novel feature called Gemoji stands out, allowing individuals to create personalized emojis by simply describing their vision, such as a “T-rex wearing a tutu on a surfboard.”

Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, is also set to benefit from the integration of large language models, enhancing its capabilities significantly. Users will be able to request Siri to perform a wider range of tasks, including summarizing articles and webpages in Safari, as well as extracting personal details from a photo of an ID to assist with filling out online forms. Apple Intelligence aims to leverage “personal context” to offer more intuitive interactions, such as conducting natural language searches for photos featuring specific people.

Apple is committed to maintaining user privacy with Apple Intelligence, ensuring that most actions are processed on the device itself. For tasks that require more computing power, data will be securely sent to Apple’s processing centers. The company has also introduced “Private Cloud Compute,” a feature designed to harness cloud computing for more complex AI tasks while keeping user data protected.

In a significant collaboration, Apple has integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence, allowing users to opt-in to share their queries with ChatGPT when it could enhance the user experience. This integration will enable users to seek creative suggestions, such as menu ideas using certain ingredients or interior design advice, by providing a photo of the space in question. ChatGPT will also enhance the AI writing tools in iOS and iPadOS 18 with a new Compose feature.

The integration of ChatGPT with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia is expected to be available later in the year. Apple has indicated that this partnership with OpenAI is not exclusive and plans to support additional AI models in the future, signaling an open approach to leveraging various AI technologies.

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18

The upcoming iOS 18 update, scheduled for release in the fall, is set to bring significant changes to iPhone users, with one of the most notable being the introduction of Rich Communication Service (RCS). RCS is a more secure messaging protocol that offers several enhancements over traditional SMS, such as end-to-end encryption, improved media sharing capabilities, and support for robust group chats. Apple’s move to adopt RCS in 2024 aligns with the company’s commitment to comply with EU regulations, making its inclusion in the list of new features for iOS 18 expected.

The Messages app will also see new functionalities, including the ability to respond with “tapback” reactions using emojis and stickers, text formatting options, effects, and the innovative capability to send messages via satellite.

In a departure from the traditional locked grid system, iOS 18 will grant users greater flexibility in customizing their home screens. App icons can be arranged more freely, and a new tint color picker will allow for the personalization of app icon colors. This represents one of the most substantial changes to the iPhone’s home screen aesthetics in years, offering iOS users customization options that have long been available to Android users.

The Control Center is also being updated to provide more personalization, including the integration of quick controls from third-party apps alongside native options.

The Photos app is undergoing a major redesign, focusing on intelligently organized photo collections based on memories, trips, and significant events. The new layout will eliminate the old tabbed interface in favor of a single-page design where users can view photos individually or by Collections. Additionally, users will have the option to filter out non-photographic items like screenshots and receipts to maintain the integrity of curated photo groups.

iOS 18 introduces new privacy features, including the ability to lock apps with Face ID or Touch ID and the option to hide apps in a special hidden folder, enhancing user control over sensitive information and app visibility.

The Calculator app is receiving a comprehensive update with enhanced unit conversions, a sidebar for recent activity, and integration with the Notes app. Notably, the revamped Calculator app will be available on the iPad for the first time with iPadOS 18, featuring a unique Math Notes function that allows users to write out equations with the Apple Pencil for instant solutions.

iPadOS 18 will also debut a new Tab Bar reminiscent of the iPhone’s Dynamic Island, improving access to essential controls within apps. The Notes app on iPadOS is being enhanced with a Smart Script feature that automatically improves the legibility of handwritten notes.

macOS Sequoia

Apple’s forthcoming update to its computer operating system, macOS Sequoia, is poised to bring a suite of new features and enhancements, many of which are powered by the company’s new AI initiative, Apple Intelligence. This update will align macOS with the AI capabilities being introduced in iOS and iPadOS 18.

One of the standout features of macOS Sequoia is iPhone mirroring, which allows users to view and interact with their iPhone screen directly from their Mac. This functionality extends to using the Mac’s keyboard and trackpad to navigate the iPhone interface, as well as the ability to open and use iOS apps on the Mac without the need to physically handle the iPhone.

macOS Sequoia will also introduce a new Passwords app, an evolution of the iCloud Keychain, designed to manage users’ passwords and login credentials seamlessly across different devices and platforms, including Windows. The app will support a variety of credential types, such as standard passwords, passkeys, verification codes, and more. Additionally, it will offer a secure method for sharing passwords with others.

Further improvements in macOS Sequoia include a snap window arrangement feature, complete with keyboard shortcuts and menu options, making window management more efficient. The Presenter Preview function is another addition, providing users with the opportunity to preview content before sharing it in a call, ensuring that only the intended material is displayed to participants.

Gaming on macOS Sequoia is set to receive a boost with the introduction of the Gameporting Toolkit 2, which aims to enhance the porting of Windows games to the Mac environment. This toolkit is expected to streamline the process and improve the overall gaming experience on Macs.

Finally, macOS Sequoia will offer access to Image Playground, an AI-powered image generator integrated into Apple Intelligence. This tool will enable users to create AI-generated images in various artistic styles, such as animation, illustration, and sketch, directly within the macOS environment. This feature exemplifies Apple’s commitment to incorporating AI into creative workflows, providing users with new tools to explore and express their creativity.

watchOS 11

The upcoming watchOS 11 update for the Apple Watch is set to introduce significant enhancements, focusing on health and fitness capabilities. Two major features are the introduction of Training Load and the new Vitals app.

Training Load is a feature designed to provide users with a better understanding of their workout efforts. By analyzing various health and fitness metrics collected during workout sessions, watchOS 11 will assign a rating between one (easy) and ten (all out) to each workout. This rating aims to give users an estimate of the intensity level they achieved during their exercise, allowing them to track their effort over time and adjust their training accordingly.

The Vitals app is another key addition to watchOS 11, offering users insight into their vital signs. The app will compare current heart rate readings and other vital metrics to baseline measurements, helping users recognize when their vitals deviate from their typical range. This feature is intended to assist users in identifying potential health issues early and to better understand their overall well-being.

In tandem with watchOS 11, the Activity app on the iPhone will also receive an update. This update will enable users to personalize the data displayed on the homepage, allowing them to prioritize the statistics that are most relevant to their fitness goals and health monitoring.

Additionally, the Cycle Tracking feature is set to be updated with more comprehensive pregnancy-related insights. Users will have access to information such as gestational age and how their health metrics, including heart rate fluctuations, may relate to their pregnancy. This enhancement aims to provide expectant mothers with a more detailed understanding of their health during pregnancy.

visionOS 2

Apple’s Vision Pro headset, which was previously exclusive to the US market, is set to expand its availability to a global audience. The company has announced that the headset will be launching in several additional countries, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and the UK, within the upcoming months. This expansion will allow more users around the world to experience Apple’s cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology.

In conjunction with the hardware rollout, Apple has also revealed updates to the headset’s operating system, visionOS. The upcoming visionOS 2 will introduce several new features to enhance the user experience. One of the key additions is spatial photos, which will bring a new dimension to images by adding depth within the Photos app. This feature is expected to create a more immersive way of viewing and interacting with photos, leveraging the headset’s capabilities to provide a richer visual experience.

Furthermore, visionOS 2 is set to improve user interaction with the introduction of new UI gesture controls. These controls will likely provide more intuitive and natural ways for users to navigate and control the headset’s interface, making the overall experience more seamless and user-friendly.

Another significant upgrade in visionOS 2 is the enhancement of Mac screen mirroring. The update will support higher resolutions and larger display sizes, allowing users to project their Mac’s screen onto the Vision Pro headset with greater clarity and detail. This improvement will be particularly beneficial for users who want to use their headset for productivity tasks, as it will provide a more versatile and high-quality viewing experience.

Overall, the international rollout of the Vision Pro headset and the introduction of visionOS 2 represent Apple’s commitment to advancing its presence in the AR and VR market, offering users around the world the opportunity to engage with its innovative technology.

AirPods Pro audio updates

Apple has announced upcoming software updates for the AirPods Pro that aim to enhance the user experience, particularly in terms of audio clarity and hands-free interaction.

One of the key updates is an improvement to Voice Isolation. This feature is designed to ensure that the AirPods Pro can more effectively capture the user’s voice while minimizing background noise, even in noisy environments. The enhancement will likely leverage advanced noise-cancellation algorithms to focus on the user’s speech, making it clearer for the person on the other end of the call.

Additionally, Apple is introducing a new way to interact with Siri on the AirPods Pro through silent gestures. Users will be able to answer incoming calls simply by nodding their head, enabling a discreet and convenient way to accept calls without having to speak a command to Siri. Conversely, a head shake will allow users to decline calls. This gesture-based interaction extends beyond calls to messages and notifications, providing a seamless and quiet way to manage communications.

These updates reflect Apple’s continuous efforts to improve the functionality and intuitiveness of its products, making the AirPods Pro not only a tool for listening to audio but also a more responsive and user-friendly device for everyday interactions.