Apple announces Google Gemini partnership, revamped Siri at WWDC 2026
12 reported
Apple held its annual Worldwide Developer Conference on Monday, where it announced a partnership with Google to use its Gemini AI as the backbone for Apple Intelligence. Software chief Craig Federighi said the keynote would focus on platform improvements, trust and safety updates, and a “big leap forward” in Apple Intelligence and Siri. The event was also the final WWDC for outgoing CEO Tim Cook, who said, “I still believe the best is yet ahead.” Apple announced in April that Cook will become executive chairman starting September 1, with John Ternus stepping in as CEO. The company introduced a new Siri AI app on iOS, integrated AI features across its ecosystem, and announced iOS 27 will support iPhones from the iPhone 11 onward. Apple also said its new AI features will not yet come to the European Union or China due to regulatory hurdles.
What’s reported
Apple entered a partnership with Google to use Gemini AI as the backbone for Apple Intelligence.
Software chief Craig Federighi said the keynote would focus on platform improvements, trust and safety, and a “big leap forward” in Apple Intelligence and Siri.
This was the final WWDC for outgoing CEO Tim Cook, who said, “I still believe the best is yet ahead.”
Apple announced in April that Cook will become executive chairman starting September 1, with John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, stepping in as CEO.
Apple revamped Siri with a new dedicated app on iOS called Siri AI, also available on Mac through Spotlight.
iOS 27 will be available on iPhones from the iPhone 11 onward.
Apple’s new AI features will not yet be coming to the European Union or China due to regulatory hurdles.
Apple’s next Mac operating system will be called Golden Gate and will only work on MacBooks using Apple’s custom silicon chips.
Safari will organize tabs into topical folders and allow users to create custom browser extensions by describing what they want.
The Home app will better group related smart-home notifications and automatically arrange video clips from compatible security cameras.
Apple introduced refinements to its Liquid Glass design, including a slider for transparency and wider sidebars.
The Photos app will gain AI-powered abilities to clean up, extend, and reframe pictures, and Image Playground has been revamped.
Key figures
Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief
Tim Cook, outgoing CEO of Apple
John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, incoming CEO
Reece Rogers, WIRED reporter
Sources: Wired
