Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 is just a week away, and while many had hoped it would mark a bold leap in artificial intelligence, recent reports suggest that won’t be the case. Despite growing expectations for Apple to match Google’s and OpenAI’s AI advancements, the tech giant is unlikely to unveil any groundbreaking AI features this year.
A year ago, Apple teased its ambitions in AI with Siri demos and early features. Fast-forward 12 months, and the momentum seems to have slowed. Bloomberg reports that while the spotlight will still shine on macOS 26 and other OS updates during the keynote, AI upgrades will be modest, with nothing that will shake up the industry or pressure competitors.
AI Focused on Privacy, Developer Tools
Apple is expected to introduce minor AI enhancements and open the door for third-party developers to integrate AI into their apps. In true Apple fashion, privacy will be a core theme—ensuring that even partner apps using Apple’s AI models handle data securely and locally wherever possible.
Internally, Apple is said to have acknowledged it may have underestimated the AI race. The long-awaited Siri AI overhaul, once a central talking point, is now reportedly delayed until at least 2026. That means WWDC 2025 will likely showcase smaller, foundational upgrades, with no headline-making AI reveals.
iOS 26 and New Naming Era Incoming
Instead of dazzling AI showcases, Apple may place more emphasis on its OS lineup—particularly iOS 26, which is rumored to introduce a new naming convention aligning it with macOS. This shift mirrors Microsoft’s strategy with Windows and could bring consistency across Apple platforms like iPadOS and macOS.
The original iOS debuted in 2007 with the first iPhone, and now Apple could be preparing to rebrand and realign its software names to better reflect their evolution and maturity.
WWDC 2025 Outlook
So while WWDC 2025 will likely include updates across macOS, iOS, and other platforms, expectations around AI should be tempered. Apple appears to be playing the long game, prioritizing privacy and ecosystem consistency over flashy announcements.