Apple held off on AI topics for the first part of its WWDC software event on Monday, yet the spotlight remained firmly on Apple Intelligence and its planned expansion this year.

The keynote worked to deliver on earlier commitments made about AI features since their initial reveal. Central to the announcements was the upgraded AI-powered Siri, though additional AI developments were also highlighted in detail below.

These changes arrive with the upcoming Apple software lineup, especially iOS 27. The iPhone update should reach users broadly this fall following summer beta releases. Compatibility requires devices with enough power for the AI tools, meaning iPhone 16 models and later plus select iPhone 15 Pro versions.

Watch this: Everything Apple Unveiled at WWDC 2026

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Siri, Siri and more Siri

Siri forms the core of the refreshed Apple Intelligence features across apps and hardware. The company has long promised AI improvements to create a more capable assistant, and the wait included a recent court settlement. A clearer view of the capabilities is now available, even without a firm release date beyond a beta later this year.

The assistant receives a new name as Siri AI, complete with its own app and options such as selectable voices. It will appear on iPhone, Mac, Watch, CarPlay and AirPods.

This matches the vision Apple outlined previously but now in a finished form, according to CNET's Principal Writer Katie Collins. The true measure will come when users see if it delivers as a genuine digital helper.

Siri AI supports more natural conversations and recalls prior questions for ongoing exchanges. It can perform searches across device content, the web and ChatGPT. One keynote demo showed voice commands used to find World Cup details online and create custom invites for friends.

Visual Intelligence adds image and video handling, while better personal context draws from apps like calendar and mail for tailored responses. Initial availability is limited to English, with possible restrictions in the EU and China due to rules.

Spatial reframing, photo editing and AI slop

Spatial reframing offers a fresh approach to adjusting photo perspectives using visualization methods from the Vision Pro. Users can drag and shift viewpoints after capture, with AI handling the adjustments to produce the final image.

An Extend feature allows resizing photos while AI completes missing areas, similar to other generative tools. A Siri mode in the camera app provides object identification and action suggestions without directing the shot itself.

One notable improvement targets the Clean Up tool for removing unwanted elements from photos. Earlier versions sometimes left visible traces, so refinements aim for cleaner results.

Apple's director of camera and photos software engineering emphasized respecting the original moment when enhancing images with AI. Results will show over time.

For full AI-driven creation, Image Playground gains updated models for more realistic outputs and improved editing options including text prompts and element adjustments.

Siri AI and Gemini

Google's Gemini ranks among leading AI systems and a key rival, yet the companies collaborated on new on-device models drawing from Gemini technology. These multimodal systems handle speech, images, video and text.

Privacy stands as Apple's main advantage, though mixing AI with personal data raises issues especially around finances and health. The 2024 launch included private cloud compute features to avoid storing user information during off-device processing.

Even more AI

Additional AI implementations include these areas:

Automatic password updates
Apple Intelligence in Apple Home
Organizing by topic in Safari
Writing with AI improvements
More automations in Shortcuts

For further WWDC coverage beyond AI topics, see the Apple Health app changes and details on MacOS 27 Golden Gate.