Apple developer conference WWDC 2024: lots of AI, but probably no hardware
Apple is reportedly not planning any further device releases in June. Nevertheless, WWDC 2024 will be important - because of the iPhone company's AI strategy.
Tim Cook at a product presentation: What's coming at WWDC 2024?
(Image: Apple / Screenshot YouTube)
When will new Apple products, such as new Macs, be released? Apparently not at WWDC 2024, which starts on June 10, i.e. next Monday, with an Apple presentation. As the usually well-informed Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman reported in his newsletter at the weekend, no new hardware is expected. A possibly planned new Apple TV model has also allegedly been postponed. A release in the first (and now ending) half of the year is no longer expected. The last Apple TV model was presented by the manufacturer in October 2022.
Not unusual
The fact that no new Apple hardware is presented at a Worldwide Developers Conference is actually not unusual: the event is primarily used by the iPhone manufacturer to showcase its new operating systems. Nevertheless, there have always been new devices in the past, such as the unveiling of the Vision Pro, the 15-inch MacBook Air and the Mac Pro M2 Ultra in 2023. However, there was no new hardware at WWDC 2018 and 2021.
Since this year's WWDC is to be all about artificial intelligence, this fits quite well. Apple is planning to equip its operating systems with new AI functions- possibly in cooperation with Google and/or OpenAI. The main component of the plans is reportedly iOS 18, but iPadOS 18 and macOS 15 could also become more "AI-fied". There will also be a revised Siri voice assistant.
Secret product hope
According to Gurman, Apple could at the very most show a product at WWDC that is not yet finished and will be released later - it is unclear which one specifically, and he does not expect this. The only thing known in advance is that the Vision Pro is apparently about to be made available in Europe and Asia, with a release date in July. However, Apple could also wait until WWDC and only announce the devices in a press release shortly before they go on sale.
"The highlight of the conference will be the AI features - along with Apple's explanation of how it will protect user privacy in this new era," writes Gurman in his report. However, it is still unclear when the "new Siri" will be released. Meanwhile, he does not expect to see M4 Macs before next fall. The new SoC was first introduced with the iPad Pro M4.
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