Expectations for Apple’s WWDC: Anticipating iOS 18’s enhanced Siri and advanced iPadOS features

Apple’s highly anticipated WWDC 2024 keynote is just around the corner, and the tech world is buzzing with excitement. As we gear up for the event, I reached out to some of my colleagues to gather their thoughts on what they hope Apple will announce and unveil at this year’s developer’s conference. From a more intelligent Siri to advanced features for iPadOS, here are five things we’re hoping to see from Apple at WWDC.

1. A smarter keyboard for the iPhone

One area that could benefit from Apple’s AI capabilities is the keyboard on the iPhone. While we already have suggested words and phrases at the top of the keyboard, there is room for improvement. By infusing AI and understanding the message, context, and even the steps leading up to the keyboard appearing, Apple could make typing on the iPhone even more practical. Smart, suggested replies are rumored for Messages and Mail, so integrating this functionality into the keyboard would be a logical next step. Additionally, incorporating formal system grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks would make messages cleaner and save users from self-editing or retyping.

2. AI-infused photo editing in Photos

As smartphone cameras continue to improve, so too should the editing capabilities within Photos. Apps like Snapseed and Pixelmator have raised the bar for photo editing on iOS devices, but Apple could take it a step further. Imagine the ability to intelligently erase a person or object from the background of an image, or a super button that goes beyond basic edits like white balance and contrast. By integrating intelligent photo tools, such as smart crops and generative AI, Apple could streamline the editing process and showcase its AI capabilities.

3. Smarter battery management on the iPhone

We’ve all been in a situation where we’re away from home and our iPhone battery starts running low. Instead of manually enabling Low Power Mode, Apple could add some intelligence to battery management. For example, when the battery percentage reaches 50% or lower, the iPhone could automatically engage Low Power Mode or notify the user to enable it. This feature would help users make it through the day without worrying about their battery dying.

4. Advanced features for iPadOS

Following the recent release of the iPad Pro with the M4 chip and the new iPad Air, Pro users are eager for even more features on iPadOS. One area that could be expanded upon is Stage Manager, an advanced multitasking experience that allows users to place and use multiple windowed applications on the same screen. By unlocking a desktop-like mode when the iPad is docked in the Magic Keyboard, users would have more freedom in placing open apps, icons, and widgets on the home screen. It’s important, however, for this feature to remain touch-first and offer compatibility with trackpads, keyboards, and the Apple Pencil.

5. A smarter, more intuitive Siri

Siri has come a long way since its introduction, but there is still room for improvement. Many users are looking for Siri to do more and be more helpful across all Apple devices. The ability for Siri to control specific functions of an app and even string together multiple commands would be a game changer. Instead of navigating through multiple apps to complete a task, users could simply issue a voice command to Siri. Integrating a large-language model, such as ChatGPT, into Siri could enhance its understanding of context and make it more context-aware. The question of on-device processing versus cloud processing also arises, as it could impact both privacy and response time.

As we eagerly await Apple’s WWDC 2024 keynote, these are just a few of the things we hope to see from the tech giant. From a smarter keyboard and advanced photo editing to better battery management and a more intuitive Siri, Apple has the potential to impress us once again with their innovative software updates. Only time will tell what surprises Tim Cook and his team have in store for us, but one thing is for sure – the tech world will be watching closely.



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