After months of anticipation, the wait is finally almost over for Apple fans, as the tech giant’s annual tech event is about to commence.
Apple says the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), which kicks off today at Apple Park in California, will be an ‘extraordinary week of technology’.
The tech giant is expected to announce a load of AI features at the ‘momentous’ event, including a chatbot built into its iPhones.
It’s also tipped to shed light on the next major mobile operating system, called iOS 18, which will likely also get an AI revamp.
Ahead of the event, MailOnline gives a rundown of everything you need to know about WWDC, including how to tune in and when the big products will be revealed.
After months of anticipation, the wait is finally almost over for Apple fans, as the tech giant’s annual tech event is about to commence. Its online invite for the event features a series of round coloured circles – a reference to its round HQ Apple Park, or possibly a famous AI?
Apple says the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), which kicks off today at Apple Park in California , will be an ‘extraordinary week of technology’
What is WWDC?
Worldwide Developer Conference is an annual event that’s been held by Apple since 1983, although it was not originally intended for hardware announcements.
It’s only in the past 20 years that Apple has used the conference as a major launchpad for new devices, including the HomePod speaker in 2017 and the iPhone 4 in 2010.
Arguably, the main event in the calendar for Apple fans is its event held in the first two weeks of September, when it announces its new iPhone.
But this year WWDC could be one of the biggest events in recent history as the company has teased a ‘huge AI announcement’.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives called WWDC 2024 ‘the most important event for Apple in over a decade’.
‘The pressure to bring a generative AI stack of technology for developers and consumers is front and centre,’ he said.
When is WWDC?
This year’s event will kick off today and run until Friday, June 14, although the major announcements are expected to happen on the first day.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook has called generative AI a ‘key opportunity’ across the iPhone maker’s line of products
There will be a special ‘in-person experience’ on the first day at Apple Park, the company’s round HQ in Cupertino, California
Apple CEO Tim Cook will deliver a keynote to kick off the event at 6pm BST (10am PT) today – an opportunity to lift the lid on Apple’s work in AI.
The five-day event will be presented online, streamed through Apple’s YouTube channel and website.
Although largely an online streaming event, there will be a special ‘in-person experience’ on the first day at Apple Park, the company’s round HQ in Cupertino, California.
Apple says it ‘will provide developers the opportunity to watch the keynote at Apple Park, meet with Apple team members, and take part in special activities’.
Apple’s invite for the event features a series of round coloured circles – potentially a reference to the shape of Apple Park.
But it’s certainly reminiscent of one of the famous AIs of all time – HAL from Stanley Kubrick’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’.
Pictured, the AI HAL from Stanley Kubrick’s blockbuster sci-fi film ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ (1968)
Apple has been slow to embrace ChatGPT-style generative AI that took the world by storm in late 2022
What will Apple announce at WWDC?
This year, Apple is expected overwhelmingly to focus on generative AI, the technology underpinning chatbots like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
At the heart of the announcements will be an update to Apple’s iPhone operating system, iOS 18, which is expected to see AI given a central role.
Apple tipster Mark Gurman thinks iOS 18 will be ‘relatively groundbreaking’ with ‘major new features and designs’ and a ‘slew of new AI features’.
iPhone apps including Safari, Fitness, Mail and Maps will get smarter and more intuitive, helping users get what they need faster.
In Messages, new AI-based transcription and translation tools may mean users have to spend less time typing out messages.
The tech giant is expected to announce a load of AI features at the ‘momentous’ event, including a chatbot built into its iPhones. It’s also tipped to shed light on the next major mobile operating system, called iOS 18, which will likely also get an AI revamp
Worldwide Developer Conference is an annual event that’s been held by Apple since 1983, although it was not originally intended for hardware announcements. Pictured, iPhone 15 released last year
Intriguingly, Apple is also expected to bring AI-generated emoji to Messages, according to Gurman.
Similar to AI tools that just need a few words to create weird artworks, this tool could come up with unique emojis such as a hotdog octopus or a sad-faced violin like on Google’s Emoji Kitchen.
‘You’ll suddenly have an all-new emoji for any occasion, beyond the catalog of options that Apple currently offers on the iPhone and other devices,’ Gurman says.
Meanwhile, on the Photos app, AI-powered photo editing, which rival Google has been pushing with its Pixel series, could also get more prominence.
There are also reports Apple will use the event to announce a deal with ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which would see the chatbot integrated directly into Apple’s software across iPhone, iPad and Mac, to help with more detailed, complex tasks.
Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, thinks this could give the tech giant’s current voice assistant, Siri, a major boost.
Siri is the digital assistant build into Apple’s software – but an OpenAI partnership could expand its intelligence
Currently, interacting with Siri ‘feels like talking to a “preschooler” in comparison with the latest generative AI chatbots,’ Wood said.
‘I’ve been using the ChatGPT voice interface, and its understanding of questions and requests is the best I’ve experienced so far,’ he said.
‘If Apple has signed a deal to integrate GPT-4o with Siri, it could deliver a remarkable transformation in Siri’s performance – and emerge as arguably the biggest story from the event.’
Apple may also announce further availability for Vision Pro, its mixed-reality headset that costs a whopping $3,499 (£2,749).
Vision Pro was released in the US in February, but shipments are about to be made to the UK, France, Germany, China, Japan and Singapore, says Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
How can I watch WWDC?
Apple will be streaming the event on its YouTube channel, as well as the Apple TV app, its website homepage, and its dedicated developer webpage.
Apple’s first ever mixed reality headset, Vision Pro (pictured), lets wearers choose apps with their eyes
If you’re watching at home, make sure you’re in front of the screen at 6pm BST (10am PT) today, as this is when the keynote will begin.
MailOnline will be bringing you all the latest news as it happens from Apple Park.
‘This feels like a momentous WWDC,’ Mr Wood said.
‘At a time when AI is transcending the tech industry, Apple is arguably on the back foot for the first time in a while.
‘However, the company is no laggard and we expect it to come out fighting as it seeks to demonstrate how it can use AI to deliver meaningful improvements to its apps and services.’
THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF APPLE
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1 1976 as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market.
Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation’s new Macintosh February 6, 1984 in California.
1981: Jobs became chairman.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.
1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.
1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.
The then Chief Executive Officer of Apple, Steve Jobs, with the iPhone
2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.
2007: Apple unveils the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was unveiled.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.
2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones – the 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner’s face.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.
2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers.
2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.
2020: In March, Apple closes all its bricks and mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus.
2021: In an online virtual event in April CEO Tim Cook declared Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year the iPhone 13 was announced.
2022: In September the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash as well as an improved camera system.
2023: Apple brought back its ‘Home Pod’ after the first generation was discontinued. The ‘Home Pod’ can be seen as an alternative to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home as it is powered by voice commands.