After Google and Microsoft talking about AI and Copilot at their conferences, Apple is ready for its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). To be held on June 5th, there are a lot of expectations from the company to dive into the space of generative AI, something that they have been shying away from. Apart from that, there are a dozen announcements that Apple is expected to definitely make. 

Mixed Reality Headset

Apple’s long-anticipated venture into mixed reality hardware is set to make waves at WWDC. With an emphasis on a blend of real and virtual worlds, this standalone headset, rumored to be called Reality Pro, promises to outshine its competitors. Meta just released its own VR headset ‘Quest 3’, just ahead of Apple’s event. 

Boasting a 4K resolution per eye, six cameras for full body motion tracking, and an M2 chip, this headset will likely offer an immersive experience. The highlight, however, lies in the innovative software that is expected to introduce hand gestures, gaze detection, and voice commands through Siri for navigation.

Object Capture and RealityKit enable the integration of real-world objects seamlessly into the AR experience. In fact, during WWDC 2022, Apple showcased a glimpse of this capability. The introduction of ARKit 6 has already unlocked a range of exciting possibilities, including 4K video, 3D object capture, face tracking, motion capture, and scene geometry. 

Given Apple’s commitment to AR, it is highly anticipated that WWDC 2023 will bring further enhancements and additions to the ARKit framework, expanding the potential of AR even further.

iPod coming back?

Just a month back, Apple had filed a patent for a technology to bring back one of its most popular and loved products – the iPod. The patent includes for music, videos, and books, with the additional feature of wireless earbuds. Though there has been no confirmed news from the company, there were reports in 2020, that the company is working on a top-secret iPod. 

Privacy and healthcare to be possibly a focus

Privacy has clearly been the selling point of Apple all these years. Recently, the company has been promoting its privacy priority through various advertisements, specifically focusing on the Apple Watch.

One of the company’s most notable features in this space is the electrocardiogram (ECG) feature. Integrating that with the Apple Health App and Watch, while also protecting the data might be the next big step for the company. “The Health app is built to keep data secure and protect your privacy. Your data is encrypted and you are always in control of your health information,” is written in the launch of the Health app. 

Generative AI, Apple chatbot, update to Siri

Something that everyone has been talking about – generative AI. Apple has been known to be committed to its privacy, and that is what probably makes it not dive into the field of large language models and chatbots. Most recently, the company decided to ban use of ChatGPT for its employees. It would be interesting to see if the company plans to develop something for its internal use. 

On the other hand, Apple’s love for federated learning has always been evident in everything it does. With its emphasis on privacy and building for edge use cases, the company can release something similar, or better than ChatGPT that can run on single devices. The chances look bleak, but are surely possible. 

Moreover, Apple recently unveiled its own Transformers architecture, specifically designed for their Apple Silicon technology. This innovative architecture supports LLM and GPT models, which have been crucial to Apple’s advancements in generative AI. 

Apple has taken significant steps in this direction by launching secure and private LLM models that operate directly on the device. As a result, it is highly likely that Apple will integrate generative AI capabilities to enhance Siri’s performance and offer users an even more powerful and interactive virtual assistant experience.

Apple Maps

An update to Apple Maps has been long awaited. The time is probably here as the company has been showing improvements in its offering by introducing a lot of features that are actually better than Google Maps. The new ‘Look Around’ perspective changes while moving the map, giving it a more live-like feeling, covering a lot more details.

Read: Can Apple Draw Better Maps than Google?

Revolutionary 15-inch MacBook Air

Apple enthusiasts can look forward to a surprising addition to the MacBook Air lineup at WWDC. Speculations suggest a 15-inch version, previously only available in the MacBook Pro series, could soon be within reach. Powered by the M2 chip and featuring an improved display and larger battery, this MacBook Air will provide a new level of portability and performance.

iOS 17 and iPadOS 17: More Freedom for Users

The upcoming iOS and iPadOS updates are rumored to introduce a significant change: sideloading. In compliance with European Union competition rules, users may soon be able to install apps outside the App Store. 

This opens up possibilities for direct downloads from the web and third-party stores, providing a more diverse app ecosystem. Additionally, these updates are expected to bring improvements such as a revamped Control Center, enhanced health and journaling features, and a tablet-native Health app for iPads.

Apple Watch’s Biggest Software Update: watchOS 10

WatchOS 10 is anticipated to bring a significant redesign to the Apple Watch. With a focus on widgets reminiscent of the original Glances feature, the interface will offer quick access to information. While apps will still be present, the emphasis will be on providing snippets of data for users to glance at conveniently. Apple might introduce this new interface as an option initially, allowing users to ease into the revamped experience.

A Sneak Peek at macOS 14

Details about macOS 14, the next major update for Mac computers, remain scarce. However, it is expected to continue Apple’s tradition of incorporating features from its iOS counterpart. Mac users can look forward to the unveiling of macOS 14 at WWDC, with the official release likely scheduled for October.

The Wildcard: The M3 Chip 

While not confirmed, rumors of the M3 system-on-chip debut at WWDC persist. This next-generation chip, boasting enhanced performance and efficiency, could potentially accompany the anticipated 15-inch MacBook Air. Additionally, Apple might surprise us with a refreshed 13-inch MacBook Air and an M3-powered iMac later in the year. However, don’t hold your breath for Pro models, as they are not expected until 2024.