Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote concluded with a slew of exciting announcements, headlined by the company’s major foray into artificial intelligence, branded as Apple Intelligence. This significant move includes an integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which users can opt to access via Siri.
Key Announcements from the Event:
Apple Intelligence:
Apple is integrating its new AI technology across Mac, iPhone, and iPad platforms, enhancing user experience and functionality.
iOS 18:
The latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system introduces a range of new features and improvements.
Major Siri Update with AI:
Siri receives a significant upgrade powered by AI, promising smarter and more efficient interactions. The company said it wanted users to be able to tap into external models.
Siri will ask if you want to share your question with ChatGPT and then will return suggestions from the OpenAI chatbot. ChatGPT is also built into systemwide writing tools. So, for example, Apple said you can create a bedtime story for a child and add images created by ChatGPT. It will be free, without creating an account, and your request and information won’t be logged, Apple said.
AirPods and tvOS Updates:
Enhancements to AirPods and the Apple TV’s tvOS aim to improve connectivity and media consumption.
What’s New with AirPods:
Siri with AirPods: AirPods now feature enhanced Siri capabilities. They can detect head motions to answer or reject phone calls: nodding to answer and shaking your head to reject.
Voice Isolation: AirPods Pro will now offer voice isolation, ensuring your voice is clear even in noisy environments.
What’s New on tvOS:
Insight: A new feature that provides detailed information about what’s playing on your TV, accessible on your iPhone.
Audio Enhancements: Apple TVs now have improved audio features, including the ability to enhance and isolate spoken audio. Subtitles will have improved timing, automatically appearing when needed.
Projector Support: Apple TVs now support 21:9 projectors, enhancing the viewing experience for widescreen setups.
New Screensavers: Apple is adding support for Portrait photos as Apple TV screensavers and allowing users to select their preferred screensavers.
WatchOS 11:
The new WatchOS 11 for Apple Watch includes updated health features and improved app performance.
Training Mode: Apple is introducing a new training mode that tracks the intensity and duration of users’ workouts and their impact on the body over time. The intensity is measured using calorimetry data, including heart rate, pace, and elevation. A “powerful new algorithm” will convert power sensor data into an effort rating estimate after workouts.
Customizable Summary Tab: Users can now personalize their summary tab to display the information most relevant to them, such as weekly running distance.
New Vitals App: The new Vitals app in watchOS 11 will monitor key health metrics like heart rate, respiratory rate, and risk temperature. It provides insights and alerts when multiple metrics are out of range. Users can also see how their vitals respond to factors like alcohol consumption, illness, and changes in elevation.
Tools for Pregnant Users: Cycle tracking has been enhanced to include gestational aids, and the Health app now displays pregnancy information across all charts and prompts, offering comprehensive support for pregnant users.
Adjustable Activity Rings: Users can now customize their activity goals by day of the week and have the option to pause their activity rings for a few days if they need a break.
AI-Powered Watch Faces: Apple is using artificial intelligence to select photos that will make excellent backgrounds for your watch face, adding a personalized touch to your Apple Watch.
These updates are designed to enhance user experience and provide more detailed insights into health and fitness.
iPadOS 18:
The latest iPadOS iteration brings new multitasking capabilities and productivity tools, according to CNBC.
- Interface improvements: A floating tab bar and automatic sidebars will allow users to use more of the screen at any given time.
- SharePlay enhancements: You can now take control of a SharePlay session.
- Calculator on iPad: Apple is finally bringing a native Calculator app for iPad. It will also support unit conversions, and when used with the Apple Pencil, will unlock a new feature called Math Notes.
- Math Notes for Calculator: Users can write with the Apple Pencil to automatically solve problems that users write on the iPad, with support for scientific calculator functions.
- Notes: The native app has a new feature called Smart Script, which uses “on-device machine learning” to automatically clean up your handwriting. You can also paste typed words into a handwriting session and they will automatically reform to appear as handwriting.
macOS Sequoia:
Apple’s desktop operating system, macOS Sequoia, introduces advanced features and a more seamless user experience.
Here’s what’s new in macOS Sequoia:
- Continued enhancements from iPadOS and iOS: New features, including text animations and Maps improvements, will also be on macOS.
- iPhone mirroring: Users can now see and control their iPhone from their Mac via Continuity. iPhones will remain locked even if in a virtual session. StandBy will also remain visually undisrupted.
- Unified Notification Center: iPhone notifications will now appear on macOS.
- New Passwords app: Apple is breaking out its iCloud-powered Keychain feature into a discrete app, competing directly with 1Password and other password managers. It will also be available on Windows.
- Video enhancements: MacOS will now offer further enhancements to video calls, including background features and screen isolation.
- Safari enhancements: Safari now has artificial intelligence-powered highlights to extract helpful information from a webpage.
Apple Passwords App:
A new dedicated app for managing passwords securely across all Apple devices.
- Continued enhancements from iPadOS and iOS: New features, including text animations and Maps improvements, will also be on macOS.
- iPhone mirroring: Users can now see and control their iPhone from their Mac via Continuity. iPhones will remain locked even if in a virtual session. StandBy will also remain visually undisrupted.
- Unified Notification Center: iPhone notifications will now appear on macOS.
- New Passwords app: Apple is breaking out its iCloud-powered Keychain feature into a discrete app, competing directly with 1Password and other password managers. It will also be available on Windows.
- Video enhancements: MacOS will now offer further enhancements to video calls, including background features and screen isolation.
- Safari enhancements: Safari now has artificial intelligence-powered highlights to extract helpful information from a webpage.
Custom Emoji – “Genmoji”:
Apple has unveiled a new feature called Genmoji, allowing users to create custom emojis using Apple’s artificial intelligence. When the perfect emoji is hard to find, Genmoji enables users to generate one that precisely conveys their message. Additionally, users can create Genmojis that resemble their friends.
Creating a Genmoji is simple and convenient. By typing a description directly into the keyboard, Apple will generate several options for users to choose from, ensuring a personalized and expressive messaging experience.
Apple will release developer versions of its software starting Monday, with public previews expected next month. The final versions are slated for a public release in the fall, once all features are polished and finalized.
For those interested in a detailed walkthrough, the live stream of the keynote is available below:
Picture Cred: 9to5Mac
