Apple reveals its cards at WWDC 2026: Biggest updates so far
Apple has unveiled a completely new Siri AI with Gemini support (photo: Unsplash)
Apple is holding its annual WWDC 2026 conference, which has become Tim Cook’s last event as CEO. The main announcements included the iOS 27 operating system, an updated macOS Golden Gate, and a radically smarter Siri AI developed in partnership with Google, according to the official event broadcast.
Siri’s second attempt and partnership with competitors
The biggest technological breakthrough of the evening was the presentation of Siri AI — a completely reimagined version of the voice assistant.
Apple attempted to launch a Siri-like smart assistant in 2024, but the release was a major failure and led to class-action lawsuits from users over unfulfilled AI promises.
This time, the company learned from its mistakes and brought in external help for development:
Google-based foundation. The new “brain” of the assistant is built on Google Gemini, which made Siri significantly more capable in contextual conversations.
Speech customization. The assistant received a more expressive, natural voice. Users will be able to manually adjust speech speed, emotional expressiveness, and even accent.
Standalone software. Insiders confirm that Apple is already developing a fully autonomous, standalone app for Siri.
What iOS 27 will change: from iPhone 11 to the newest flagships
The new mobile platform iOS 27 focuses on stability and interface improvements. Good news for users is that Apple has not cut off older devices — the update will support all smartphones starting from the iPhone 11 lineup.
The main visual change concerns customization of the Liquid Glass design introduced last year. Interface elements and animations were previously criticized for poor text readability on transparent backgrounds.
In iOS 27, developers added a special opacity slider that allows users to control how “glass-like” and transparent tabs and menus are.
A gift for music lovers
AirPods will finally receive a feature users have been waiting for for years — a full manual equalizer.
Instead of Apple’s fixed sound profile, users will be able to adjust low, mid, and high frequencies according to their audio preferences.
What will the new macOS surprise users with?
The new desktop system for Mac computers is called macOS 27 Golden Gate. Unlike previous presentations, Apple did not spend much time on it, instead focusing on cross-platform features.
In addition to the shared iOS window transparency slider, the system received a notable retro change: side menus and icons have been restored to their original colors. Apple has moved away from a monochrome design.
Great attention was also given to child safety online. In Safari, for users under 13, a strict filter is now enabled by default, requiring parental confirmation when attempting to open suspicious websites.
Scandals outside Apple Park
However, it was not all smooth sailing. The Cupertino presentation is being accompanied by protests outside Apple Park. Human rights organizations UltraViolet and Heat Initiative displayed banners demanding that future CEO John Ternus take a tougher stance on App Store moderation and iCloud policies.
Activists are calling for a complete ban on apps that use AI to generate nude edits of people in photos (“nudify” apps), as well as stronger algorithms to block illegal content, urging new leadership to take maximum responsibility toward society.
