On June 8, Apple announced that WWDC 2026 will take place from June 8 to June 12.
WWDC is Apple's yearly developer event, typically showcasing the next generation of operating systems and software updates. Given Apple's recent announcement that it will adopt Google's generative AI model, Gemini, for the next version of Siri, this year's event is likely to emphasize AI-related announcements.
Historically, Apple has unveiled new iPhone products in September, suggesting that this WWDC will focus more on software and AI functionality updates rather than hardware. Last year's WWDC featured a major update with the introduction of 'Liquid Glass,' a design overhaul inspired by glass textures.
The keynote address will be held on June 8 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time (2 a.m. Korea Time on June 9) and will be streamed live on Apple's official website, the Apple TV app, and the Apple YouTube channel. On the same day at 1 p.m., the 'Platform State of the Union' event will also take place.
This year's conference will include video sessions, guides, group labs, and the Apple Design Awards. The group labs will feature live online presentations and Q&A sessions led by Apple engineers and designers.
WWDC 2026 is expected to be the last developer conference attended by Cook as CEO. In April, Apple announced that John Ternus, the senior vice president of hardware engineering, will take over leadership in September.
Cook became CEO in 2011, succeeding Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Under his leadership, Apple has experienced unprecedented growth, driven by the expansion of the iPhone and services.
However, the company has faced criticism for lagging behind competitors in the AI sector. Although Apple introduced 'Apple Intelligence' at WWDC 2024, the rollout of related features has not met investor and consumer expectations.
In contrast, Samsung and Google have rapidly integrated generative AI into smartphones, search engines, productivity tools, and mobile operating systems over the past two years, leading the AI device market.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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