Category: Technology | Published: 2025-06-19
Focus on New Website Features and Developer Tools
Held at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, WWDC 2025 brought developers and media together for the company’s yearly June event. As expected, the focus was on new software features and developer tools rather than hardware. The announcements spanned iOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, tvOS and iPadOS, alongside incremental upgrades to AirPods, CarPlay and Apple Wallet. However, while some Apple Intelligence features were expanded, Siri was notably absent, raising questions about Apple’s positioning in the increasingly competitive AI market.
Introducing ‘Liquid Glass’ Design and a New Naming Convention
One of the standout changes announced at WWDC 2025 was Apple’s complete visual overhaul of its operating systems. A new design language called Liquid Glass will replace the current aesthetic across iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS.
The new interface uses semi-translucent, reflective elements that respond to lighting and context, creating what Apple describes as a more immersive and natural user experience. Context menus, alerts and backgrounds now blend with the device’s environment. Apple confirmed that this marks the most significant visual shift since iOS 7 back in 2013.
Alongside this, Apple also announced it would abandon sequential numbering for its OS versions. Instead, the 2025 releases will all carry the year in their names. This means users will see iOS 26, macOS 26 (also known as macOS Tahoe), watchOS 26, and so on.
Apple Intelligence Expands, but Siri Delays Raise Concerns
Apple made several announcements about its Apple Intelligence initiative (first introduced at WWDC 2024). This year, the company extended AI features to more apps and functions, positioning privacy-friendly on-device intelligence as a central part of the user experience.
Visual Intelligence Enhances Screen Awareness
A key update is Visual Intelligence, an AI tool that analyses screen content and lets users interact with what they’re viewing. For example, users can tap on a photo of a restaurant and get more details via Google, ChatGPT or supported apps. It can also detect events and suggest adding them to the calendar, automatically extracting date, time and location information.
Live Coaching, Translation and Smarter Shortcuts
It seems that Apple Watch users will be getting a new AI-powered workout coach called ‘Workout Buddy’. It uses personal fitness history and real-time performance data to deliver motivational voice feedback during exercise. Also, ‘Live Translation’ enables real-time, on-device translations across Messages, FaceTime and phone calls, displaying captions or speaking translations aloud depending on the context.
Apple’s Shortcuts app has also been upgraded. For example, users can now add intelligent actions, such as text summarisation or image generation, powered by Apple Intelligence. These can be run entirely on-device or use Apple’s Private Cloud Compute when needed, preserving user privacy.
Developers Gain Direct Access to On-Device Models
In what could be described as quite a significant shift, Apple announced the Foundation Models framework, giving developers access to its on-device large language model. For example, with native Swift support (developers using Apple’s language to build apps easily), apps can now integrate Apple Intelligence features like summarisation or natural language commands using as little as three lines of code.
As highlighted by Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering: _“Now, the models that power Apple Intelligence are becoming more capable and efficient, and we’re integrating features in even more places across each of our operating systems.”_
Siri Upgrades Still Missing in Action
Despite the expanded AI rollout, many attendees had been expecting a major upgrade to Siri. Instead, Apple confirmed delays to its next-generation voice assistant. Federighi admitted that the improvements had not reached the level of reliability Apple wanted, saying: _“We weren’t able to achieve the reliability in the time we thought.”_
This absence was widely noted and may add pressure to Apple’s position in the AI race. For example, while competitors like OpenAI, Google and Microsoft continue to push forward with conversational agents, it seems that Apple’s flagship assistant remains largely unchanged for now.
iOS 26 Brings Visual Overhaul and AI Features
iOS 26 was positioned as Apple’s flagship release, introducing Liquid Glass and a more adaptive Lock Screen and Home Screen experience. Key additions include contextual widgets, smarter Spotlight search with task-aware results, and updates to Messages such as AI-suggested polls and live translation. There are also enhanced privacy controls and accessibility tools.
A redesigned Control Centre and greater customisation options round out the update. Users can also activate features like Visual Intelligence directly from the Action button or screenshot shortcuts.
Also, Apple’s new child safety features will now require parental approval before children can communicate with new contacts, reflecting growing concern over online safety. Developers will also have access to a new ‘PermissionKit’ to implement similar controls within their apps.
macOS 26 ‘Tahoe’ and Spotlight Upgrades
The macOS 26 update, codenamed Tahoe, brings the Liquid Glass interface to Mac alongside new Spotlight functionality. Users can now trigger app actions directly from Spotlight, such as playing music, starting a workout or adding tasks to Notes.
The new theme options and improved menu navigation are designed to appeal to productivity users, while the expanded Shortcuts integration introduces AI-generated actions. macOS Tahoe will also be the last major version supported on Intel-based Macs, marking the end of an era as Apple completes its transition to Apple Silicon.
Multitasking Redefined on iPadOS 26
iPadOS 26 delivers a long-awaited overhaul to multitasking. For example, Apple says that users can now resize app windows more freely and reposition them anywhere on the screen, bringing the iPad experience closer to macOS. Developers will have to opt in to support the new features, but the system is reportedly intuitive and flexible.
Other changes include the arrival of the Journal app on iPad, new Apple Pencil features for image markup, and enhanced export options for creative users. Also, preview tools now allow users to inspect and annotate files more like on desktop platforms.
Vision Pro Gains New Accessories and Software Updates
visionOS 26, Apple’s latest operating system for its Vision Pro headset, brings new spatial widgets and easier profile switching to the headset. Apple also confirmed compatibility with the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller and a new Logitech Muse stylus. These accessories are intended to boost adoption of the device among gamers, designers and engineers.
Also, it seems that Persona avatars, previously criticised for their unnatural look, have been refined to look more realistic, while support for more third-party input devices reflects Apple’s efforts to expand the Vision Pro’s ecosystem.
watchOS 26 and tvOS 26: Subtle but Useful Enhancements
Apple also announced that as part of watchOS 26 (an update for Apple Watch), the Liquid Glass update introduces the Workout Buddy AI feature for real-time coaching. A new flick gesture enables users to interact with the watch without touching the screen, improving accessibility.
Also, tvOS 26 now focuses on usability, introducing faster profile switching, a sleeker interface and a karaoke feature. AirPods also now gain studio-quality audio recording and camera remote capabilities, making them more usefu