Apple unveiled its next-generation AI platform at the WWDC 2026 event, sharing details about the long-awaited AI-powered Siri update. Craig Federighi, the company’s head of software engineering, announced that the new Apple Intelligence platform will be able to more accurately understand the context of user queries and significantly enhance the AI experience.
This update which is of critical significance for Apple, is at the very heart of the company’s strategy to boost its competitive edge in the AI sector. Some features of the Apple Intelligence platform, which was first announced in 2024, were released later than planned and were found to be lacking compared to competitors. The company launched a comprehensive overhaul, especially after Siri—introduced in 2011—had lagged behind its AI competitors for years.
Speaking on the WWDC stage, Federighi said the new software updates will focus on three key areas: AI capabilities, performance improvements, and security. Apple also announced that the name of the new operating system developed for Mac computers will be macOS Golden Gate. It also updated the Liquid Glass design style introduced last year, adding a new slider feature that allows users to adjust the intensity of visual effects.
New Apple Intelligence features aren’t limited to Siri alone. Apple revealed that the Home app can now analyze footage from compatible security cameras to generate automatic summaries. Additionally, the Image Generation app can now produce photorealistic images and create new visuals using people from users’ photo libraries.
Apple also confirmed that daily usage limits will apply to some Apple Intelligence features. On the other hand, it was noted that the AI-powered Siri will not be available to iOS and iPadOS users in the European Union in the initial phase.
The new Siri AI features and the beta version are set to be released to users later this year, Apple said. However, investors reacted cautiously to the announcements. Apple shares, which had risen by over 3% earlier in the day, reversed course during the event and began to decline.
Apple stated that the developer beta program for the new operating system versions is now available. The public beta, which general users can join, is scheduled to be released next month.
