A New Siri, Built on Google Gemini
The headline announcement was a complete overhaul of Siri, built on a custom Gemini model from Google. The partnership, confirmed in January, is reported to cost Apple around $1 billion a year.The rebuilt assistant, now called Siri AI, is a significant departure from what Apple users have known for over a decade. It arrives as a standalone app on iPhone, iPad and Mac, appears within the Dynamic Island with a “Search or Ask” prompt, and supports multi-step commands and a persistent conversation history synchronised across devices via iCloud.
Users can now have full back-and-forth conversations with Siri for research and brainstorming. Apple demonstrated the feature by looking up the FIFA 2026 World Cup schedule and then asking Siri to help plan a watch party around a specific match, including food recommendations from the competing countries.
On Mac, the new Siri lives within Spotlight. On iPhone, it lives in the Dynamic Island. Chats synchronise across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Vision Pro.
There is, however, a notable caveat. The new Siri will not be available in the European Union on iOS and iPadOS, at least initially, shutting out a very large number of customers from the keynote’s headline feature. Apple did not provide a timeline for EU availability.
Apple Intelligence Goes Wider
Beyond Siri, Apple announced a broad expansion of its Apple Intelligence features. The full slate includes App Actions, on-screen awareness, Siri AI in CarPlay and with AirPods, system-wide automatic proofreading, Smart Reply in the user’s own writing style, improved Image Playground and Genmoji tools, Call Context, richer Shortcuts automations, and accessibility upgrades such as rich image details in VoiceOver and the ability to Ask Magnifier about your surroundings.
Photos app gets a meaningful upgrade, with natural-language editing allowing users to describe changes in plain words. iCloud Shared Albums will now work with full-resolution photos, with support extended to Android and Windows as well.
Third-party AI model support was also addressed. Users will be able to route queries to ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini depending on preference.
macOS Golden Gate
Apple announced macOS Golden Gate 27 as the next major version for the Mac. It brings refinements to the Liquid Glass visual design introduced in macOS Tahoe 26, addressing widespread criticism that the implementation felt unfinished. The new version gives users a slider to control the intensity of the glass effect across the entire system.
The release also carries a historic footnote. macOS Golden Gate marks the official end of Intel Mac support.
Apple’s transition to its own silicon, which began in 2020, is now complete.homeOS: A New Operating System
One of the more unexpected announcements was homeOS, a new operating system for Apple’s upcoming HomePad device. The HomePad combines a HomePod speaker with a 7-inch display and an A18 chip. Apple released the software developer preview ahead of the hardware, which is expected in autumn 2026.
iOS 27 and the Other Platforms
Apple described WWDC 2026 as a deliberate refinement year, with a focus on stability, battery life and broad device support. The iPhone 11 remains on the iOS 27 compatibility list.
Apple says apps now launch up to 30 per cent faster, while AirDrop transfers are up to 80 per cent faster than before. AirPods are finally getting a custom EQ in iOS 27. visionOS 27 brings Liquid Glass refinements, Siri AI integration and new accessibility features, including wheelchair controls. Developer betas for all platforms dropped immediately after the keynote.
Women’s Health: Perimenopause and Menopause Tracking
Apple announced it is adding perimenopause and menopause support to its existing cycle-tracking feature in the Health app. Apple has been pushing deeper into women’s health since 2019, when it first added a cycle tracker to Apple Watch and iOS. This latest update embraces a topic that has gone mainstream, appearing across social media platforms and daytime television.
The Health app will now look for specific signs of perimenopause and menopause in a user’s body data and send a direct alert when notable changes are detected. The update also adds dedicated support for menopause education and fitness recommendations within the Health app. The feature sits within watchOS 27 and iOS 27 and will be available to users this autumn.
Child Safety
Apple devoted significant time to parental controls and child safety. Parents and guardians can now set up child accounts, which are mandatory for those under 13 and can remain active until the age of 18. The accounts enable safeguards tailored to a child’s age, including limits on adult websites, age-appropriate media and App Store restrictions. Parents can also manage who their child can contact via Phone, FaceTime and Messages.
Developer Tools
Apple announced AI-assisted coding, testing and documentation within Xcode. Performance improvements were highlighted across Safari, Wallet, Maps and other core system apps.
Tim Cook’s Final Bow
Tim Cook ended the keynote with a short, personal message as he prepares to step down. Apple announced his CEO transition in April, naming Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus as his replacement. Cook will take on the role of executive chairman on 1 September. He has led Apple since 2011, following the death of Steve Jobs. Ternus has been at the company for 25 years.
Ternus did not appear during the keynote itself.
All software updates are expected to reach users later this year, alongside the iPhone 18 line-up.
