Apple's WWDC event is starting on June 9th, and according to Bloomberg's insider report, Apple won't be launching many AI updates this year. Instead, the company is focusing on next year's WWDC for their big AI announcements.
This year's event is also going to be much smaller than previous years, known as the “gap year,” to push for a stronger AI reveal in 2026, which isn't great news for people hoping to see exciting new technology this year.
The report shows that Apple is taking a careful approach after last year's Apple Intelligence didn't impress users as much as expected. While other companies like Google and OpenAI keep adding amazing AI features, Apple seems to be holding back and waiting.
So let's look at what will be announced at WWDC 2025, what's going to be missed, and why this year might be a disappointment for AI fans who were hoping for big updates from Apple.
What is Apple's WWDC and Why Does it Matter for AI?
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is a big yearly event where Apple shows its new software and technology to developers and tech fans. Think of it as Apple's main stage where they announce what's coming next for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other Apple devices.
This year's WWDC matters a lot for AI because Apple is trying to catch up with other tech companies. Last year, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, which was their first big step into AI technology. However, many people felt it wasn't as good as what other companies like OpenAI and Google were offering.
Key things that make WWDC important for AI:
- Apple uses this event to show new AI features and improvements
- Developers learn how to build AI apps for Apple devices
- It shows how Apple plans to compete with other AI companies
- New AI tools get announced that regular users will see later
Right now, Apple is behind other companies in the AI race. Many people are watching WWDC 2025 to see if Apple can show something exciting that proves they're getting better at AI technology.
Apple's AI Story So Far - A Quick Recap
Apple jumped into the AI world later than most big tech companies. In 2024, they launched Apple Intelligence as their answer to AI tools like ChatGPT and Google's AI services. The company presented itself as the thoughtful one that took time to get AI right.
When Apple Intelligence finally came out, it didn't live up to the hype. The AI features felt basic compared to what other companies were offering. Tools like Writing Tools and Genmoji were helpful but nothing special. Even worse, the new Siri that was supposed to be the star of Apple Intelligence got delayed because of technical problems.
What Apple Intelligence includes:
- Writing help tools for emails and messages
- Smart photo organization and search
- Priority notifications that filter important messages
- Genmoji creation for custom emojis
The biggest issue is that Apple Intelligence feels more like smart marketing than real innovation. While other companies keep pushing AI forward, Apple seems to be playing catch-up instead of leading the way.
Why Apple's AI Plans Are Falling Behind
Apple Intelligence launched with big promises but quickly showed its weak spots. The AI features were basic and didn't work as smoothly as people expected. Many features that Apple announced weren't even ready when the iPhone 16 came out, showing poor planning and timing.
Meanwhile, competitors are racing ahead. Google made huge improvements at their recent Google I/O 2025 event, creating new ways to make videos and search the internet with AI. OpenAI keeps adding amazing features to ChatGPT that make conversations feel more natural and helpful.
The biggest problem is Siri, Apple's voice assistant that was supposed to be the heart of Apple Intelligence. Siri still can't have real conversations like ChatGPT can. Apple has been working on fixing Siri for months, but engineering problems keep causing delays.
Key problems Apple faces:
- Apple Intelligence features feel outdated compared to competitors
- Siri remains limited and can't compete with ChatGPT's voice mode
- Delays in releasing promised features hurt Apple's reputation
- Other companies are moving much faster with AI development
This puts Apple in a tough spot as they try to convince people they're serious about AI.
What Apple Will Actually Show at WWDC 2025
Apple's WWDC 2025 won't have the big AI surprises that people are hoping for. The main announcement will be opening up Apple's basic AI models to app developers. These models are much simpler than what OpenAI and Google use, with only 3 billion parameters compared to the hundreds of billions that power ChatGPT.
For regular users, the updates will be pretty boring. Apple will add a new power management mode, update their Translate app to work with AirPods, and quietly rebrand existing features in Safari and Photos as "AI-powered." None of these changes will feel groundbreaking or exciting.
The biggest clue about Apple's strategy is that they're changing how they name their operating systems to include years. This move is all about marketing - trying to make people think Apple is innovative without actually delivering major tech improvements.
What to expect at WWDC:
- Basic AI tools for app developers only
- Small updates to existing apps like Translate
- Rebranding of old features as "AI-powered"
- New naming system for operating systems
- Focus on marketing rather than real innovation
Apple seems more interested in looking like an AI company than actually becoming one this year.
What Apple Won't Be Announcing (But Users Want)
The features people actually want from Apple won't be shown at WWDC 2025. The biggest missing piece is the new Siri that can have real conversations like ChatGPT. Apple has been working on this for months, but technical problems keep pushing it back. This upgraded Siri was supposed to be the main attraction of Apple Intelligence.
Other delayed features include a smarter Shortcuts app that would let users create actions using AI, and Apple's health AI service called Mulberry. These projects are still deep in development and won't be ready until 2026 at the earliest.
Apple is also working on their own ChatGPT competitor that can search the internet, but this project is already facing the same engineering problems that delayed Siri.
Features that won't be announced:
- Conversational Siri that works like ChatGPT
- AI-powered Shortcuts app for easier automation
- Health AI service for medical assistance
- Apple's own web-searching chatbot
Apple learned from last year's mistake when they promised features that weren't ready. Now they're only announcing things they know will actually work by fall 2025.
Can Apple Catch Up in AI?
Apple's slow and careful approach to AI has both good and bad sides. Being careful means they avoid releasing broken features that upset users. Apple wants to rebuild trust after last year's Apple Intelligence disappointment. However, moving slowly is risky when competitors like Google and OpenAI are improving their AI every few months.
For Apple to compete better, they need to fix their biggest problems first. The new Siri must work properly and have real conversations. Apple also needs to release their powerful 150 billion parameter AI model that they're keeping internal. This model is almost as good as ChatGPT but Apple won't release it because they're worried about mistakes.
The timeline for real progress looks like this: Apple hopes to show major improvements at WWDC 2026. They're planning to have conversational Siri, better health AI, and their own chatbot ready by then.
What Apple needs to do:
- Release their more powerful AI models to the public
- Fix Siri's conversation abilities
- Stop being so worried about AI mistakes
- Move faster to match competitor speed
The big question is whether Apple can wait another year while everyone else moves ahead.
Conclusion
Apple's WWDC 2025 will likely disappoint AI fans who want to see the company catch up with Google and OpenAI. The event will focus on small developer tools and marketing tricks rather than exciting new AI features. Apple Intelligence still feels basic, Siri remains broken, and the company keeps delaying the features people actually want.
While Apple has powerful AI technology behind the scenes, they're too worried about making mistakes to release it. This careful approach helped them avoid broken launches, but it's also letting competitors pull further ahead every month.
The real disappointment is that Apple won't show the conversational Siri, health AI, or web-searching chatbot that could make them competitive again. These features are pushed back to 2026 or later.
Key takeaways:
- WWDC 2025 will have limited AI announcements
- Apple's best AI features remain unreleased due to caution
- Competitors continue moving faster than Apple
This year won't be good for Apple's AI reputation, but the company is putting all their focus on WWDC 2026 to finally prove they can compete in the AI race.
FAQs
1. Will Apple announce any AI hardware at WWDC 2025?
No, Apple won't announce any major AI hardware at WWDC 2025. The company has no new devices ready to ship, and their next hardware cycle with new iPhones and Apple Watches is planned for fall 2025, not during the developer conference.
2. How does Apple's AI approach differ from competitors?
Apple focuses on privacy and on-device processing while competitors use powerful cloud-based AI. Apple is more cautious about releasing features, preferring to avoid mistakes. However, this makes their AI less capable than Google's and OpenAI's cloud-powered systems that can handle complex tasks.
3. What AI features can I use on my Apple devices right now?
Current Apple Intelligence features include Writing Tools for emails and messages, smart photo search and organization, Priority Notifications that filter important messages, and Genmoji creation. These work on newer iPhones, iPads, and Macs that support Apple Intelligence processing requirements.
4. Should I buy an iPhone now or wait for better AI features?
Buy now if you need a phone. The major AI improvements won't come until 2026 at the earliest. Current Apple Intelligence features are basic and won't dramatically change your phone experience. Waiting over a year for better AI isn't worth it for most people.
5. Will the new Siri be ready this year?
No, the conversational Siri that can compete with ChatGPT won't be ready in 2025. Apple is still facing engineering problems and technical delays. The improved Siri that can have real conversations is pushed back to 2026 or later according to internal reports.
