Apple WWDC 2026: Siri AI, iOS 27 and New Agent Features

The annual Apple Worldwide Developers Conference begins today at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET, bringing a wave of anticipated updates to the company’s software ecosystem. This year’s event promises a significant focus on generative AI, headlined by a major transformation of Siri and the debut of iOS 27.

Viewers can follow the announcements live through the Apple Developer app, the official Apple website, or the Apple YouTube channel.

Siri’s AI Evolution

At the core of the conference is a comprehensive overhaul of Siri. The assistant is expected to shift into a highly conversational agent capable of managing multi-step tasks and maintaining context across various apps. Reports indicate that Apple is integrating Google’s Gemini technology to bolster these new capabilities.

Beyond the core assistant, internal leaks suggest a standalone Siri application designed to rival high-end chatbots like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini. New privacy-focused features may also be introduced, allowing users to automatically delete conversation logs after a set period, ranging from 30 days to a year, or retain them indefinitely.

New Visual and Photo Intelligence

The Camera and Photos apps are set to receive deep integration with Apple Intelligence. Key updates include:

• Visual Intelligence: A new mode within the Camera app that replaces the previous button-based control, allowing users to identify objects using Google Image Search.
• Enhanced Photos Editing: Apple is introducing natural language-based editing, allowing users to request specific changes, alongside automated object removal and intelligent scene recommendations.

Expansion of Image Playground and Wallet

Apple’s creative suite, Image Playground, is slated for a performance boost, featuring better character consistency, higher-quality generation, and simplified editing controls. The update may also introduce “Genmoji,” which generates custom emojis based on a user’s specific text and media interactions, as well as AI-generated wallpapers.

The Wallet app is also receiving functional upgrades, including a bill-splitting tool that processes receipts to generate payment requests. Additionally, a new “Create a Pass” feature will allow users to digitize physical items, such as gym memberships, concert tickets, and movie passes.

AI Agents and Ecosystem Integration

According to The Information, Apple is exploring the introduction of an AI agent integration within the App Store. These agents are designed to handle complex user delegations, such as managing smart home devices, drafting documents, or booking reservations.

These AI-powered enhancements are expected to extend across the broader Apple hardware lineup, with updates anticipated for visionOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS to improve stability and AI-driven performance.