Apple WWDC 2026 Rolls Out New Siri AI and iOS 27 as Tim Cook Takes His Final Bow

WWDC 2026 opened at Apple Park on June 8 under the tagline “All Systems Glow,” with Apple Intelligence dominating nearly every announcement. After two years of delays, Apple unveiled a rebuilt, more personal Siri powered by a custom Google Gemini model.

The event began at 10 a.m. PT and featured software updates across Apple’s platforms. The conference was also significant as CEO Tim Cook’s final WWDC before handing leadership to SVP of Hardware Engineering John Ternus on September 1.

Cook’s tenure concludes with the long-promised AI overhaul finally arriving, closing a chapter marked by Apple Intelligence’s delayed rollout.

Siri AI: Rebuilt From Scratch on Gemini

Apple positioned Siri as a major AI upgrade, acknowledging rising user expectations in the AI era. And as reported earlier, this would be available in a beta version this fall.

Siri AI runs on a custom 1.2-trillion-parameter Google Gemini model and makes App Intents the required framework for third-party app interactions, putting SiriKit on a path to deprecation.

This revamped Siri introduces system-wide contextual awareness, allowing it to understand on-screen content, calendars, messages, and files simultaneously. It can also complete multi-step tasks across apps without requiring users to switch between them manually.

Full Siri AI access requires devices that meet Apple’s Neural Engine requirements, including the iPhone 16 lineup and later, iPhone 15 Pro models, and iPads and Macs powered by M1 chips or newer.

The biggest limitation announced at WWDC is regional availability. Apple said Siri AI will not launch in the European Union with iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 due to Digital Markets Act compliance concerns. 

China is also excluded at launch, leaving hundreds of millions of users without the flagship AI feature until regulatory issues are resolved.

iOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, and the Extensions Framework

iOS 27 introduces performance improvements and the new Extensions framework, allowing users to choose which third-party AI model powers Apple Intelligence features, including Claude from Anthropic and models from other providers.

Apple also refined the Liquid Glass design language introduced in iOS 26, addressing readability concerns that emerged after last year’s launch. The update reflects months of work to improve usability while retaining the visual style.

Search received dedicated attention during WWDC, with Apple focusing on a common user complaint: difficulty finding content that users know exists on their devices.

macOS 27, named Golden Gate, carries Siri AI and Apple Intelligence upgrades to Macs that meet Apple’s Neural Engine requirements. The release also departs from Apple’s longstanding California landmark naming convention, arriving alongside the company’s leadership transition.

Parental controls were among the keynote’s most detailed announcements. 

Apple introduced default protections for children under 13, including “Ask to Browse” for web access and “Ask to Buy” for App Store purchases, alongside age-adjustable controls that parents can modify over time.

What Comes Next for Apple

iOS 27 developer betas went live immediately following the keynote, with public betas expected in July and the full public release arriving in September alongside new iPhone hardware. 

Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini, confirmed as finished and waiting, are expected to launch alongside iOS 27 in autumn. 

The WWDC week continues through June 12 with 100 developer sessions, labs, and one-on-one time with Apple engineers. 

Xcode 27 ships with on-device AI assistance for code completion and debugging; the developer-facing equivalent of what Siri AI delivers for consumers. Tim Cook’s last keynote delivered the AI reset he needed.

Source: Apple unveils next generation of Apple Intelligence, Siri AI