Siri’s AI Overhaul and Apple Intelligence Features to Debut at WWDC 2026

WWDC 2026 will begin on Monday at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET, with Apple streaming the event live via the Apple Developer app, its official website, and the Apple Developer YouTube channel.

The highlight of this year’s conference is a significant artificial intelligence upgrade to Siri, aimed at making the assistant more conversational and context-aware. This update will enable Siri to manage multi-step tasks and interact more naturally across various apps and services by incorporating Google’s Gemini technology.

Recent Bloomberg leaks have revealed plans for a standalone Siri app designed to compete with AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. This app may also introduce a messaging-like feature allowing users to set timers to automatically delete conversations after 30 days, a year, or retain them indefinitely.

AI Agent Integration and App Store Developments

According to The Information, Apple intends to launch an AI agent integration within the app store. While specifics remain limited, these agents will enable users to delegate tasks including booking reservations, managing daily activities, editing documents, and controlling smart home devices.

Enhancements to Camera and Photos Apps

The Camera app is expected to receive a new “Visual Intelligence” section, replacing the previous Visual Intelligence feature found in the Camera Control button. This update will add a dedicated Siri mode alongside existing options such as Photo, Video, Portrait, and Panorama. The Visual Intelligence functionality uses Google Image Search technology to identify objects captured by the camera.

Meanwhile, the Photos app will gain Apple Intelligence-powered improvements. These enhancements may include intelligent scene recommendations for photo optimization, automatic removal of unwanted objects, and an AI-driven photo editing feature that allows users to request edits using natural language commands.

Image Playground and Wallet App Upgrades

Apple plans to upgrade the Image Playground app with higher-quality image generation, expanded artistic styles, improved character consistency, and more advanced editing controls. The image creation interface will be streamlined, featuring fewer controls and a “describe a change” option for editing images.

A proposed Genmoji feature might suggest custom emojis based on users’ media and text interactions. Additionally, users could generate AI-created wallpapers reflecting different themes and moods.

Significant updates are also expected for the Wallet app, including a bill-splitting feature that simplifies expense sharing among friends or family. Users will be able to photograph receipts and create payment requests for multiple parties easily.

The Wallet app will further introduce a “Create a Pass” option, allowing users to generate digital passes from physical items such as movie tickets, concert passes, or gym membership cards.

System-Wide AI and Stability Enhancements

Apple is anticipated to improve its AI-powered Siri experience across macOS, iPadOS, visionOS, watchOS, and tvOS. These updates will likely include additional AI functionalities and stability improvements throughout the operating systems.