Apple’s WWDC Falls Short on AI, Yet Software Receives Its Most Significant Overhaul in Ten Years
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Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed attendees during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 09, 2025, in Cupertino, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Apple’s annual developer conference on Monday did not feature the exciting announcements fans have come to expect from WWDC. Unlike the Vision Pro reveal in 2023 or the Apple Intelligence announcement last year, the focus this time was on an important software update set to transform the visual experience across all of Apple’s major devices including iPhones, Mac laptops, and Vision Pro headsets. This new design language, named Liquid Glass, represents a significant change.
It marks the first major redesign of the iPhone operating system since 2013, when iOS 7 was introduced. Apple describes the new lock screen as giving a glass-like appearance, with buttons that morph into glass-like shapes and smoothly transition across the interface. The update also includes new animations such as those for answering incoming calls.
The reveal did not impress Wall Street, causing shares to decline by 1.2% on the day. Investors are urging Apple to enhance its artificial intelligence strategy to compete with leading models from other organizations.
“Many of the AI features announced seemed more incremental and already available through competitor applications,” noted UBS analyst David Vogt in a report. He currently holds a neutral rating on the stock.
Last year, Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence, its competitor to ChatGPT, showcasing a more intuitive Siri capable of analyzing emails and messages to suggest optimal times for making reservations. However, the launch of this feature was postponed in March, and no updates on its timeline were shared during the event.
“This work needed more time to meet our high standards,” stated Apple software chief Craig Federighi, reaffirming the timeline of “the coming year.”
### Liquid Glass Design
At WWDC, Apple’s emphasis was on presenting new features and animations across its software that aim to create a delightful user experience, according to CEO Tim Cook.
The new design language heavily incorporates transparent buttons, sliders, and other interactive elements, which users will recognize immediately upon upgrading to the new iOS available for beta testing this summer.
Apple introduced the Liquid Glass concept on June 9, 2025, during WWDC. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
The new aesthetic features rounded corners that align with device shapes, in contrast to the traditional sharp angles seen in past updates. One reason given for the timing of this rollout was that Apple’s hardware has now evolved to handle the new resources effectively. The fresh look is said to be inspired by VisionOS, Apple’s software for the Vision Pro.
“Apple Silicon has become dramatically more powerful—enabling software, materials, and experiences we once thought were unattainable,” Federighi highlighted in a recorded message.
Responses to the announcement have varied widely. Some individuals on social media expressed enthusiasm, while others drew comparisons to Windows Vista, which debuted in 2007.
#### AI Enhancements
While significant changes to Siri were limited, Apple did roll out several noteworthy improvements to its AI functionalities. The company expanded its integration with ChatGPT, incorporating its image generation capabilities into an existing app.
In an upgrade, when a user takes a screenshot on an iPhone, a new button allows the image to be sent to ChatGPT, which can summarize text or interpret the content depicted.
A significant feature being introduced is real-time language translation. During phone calls between individuals who speak different languages, the app can translate spoken sentences and voice them back to the other party using an AI-generated voice. Importantly, Apple states that this feature operates directly on the iPhone without needing a server connection.
### New Versioning System
In some circles within the Apple community, the most significant announcement on Monday may revolve around a simple number. Since 2007, Apple has unveiled a new version of iOS annually. By 2024, iOS 18 was introduced, marking an important milestone for users keen on accessing the latest features, with approximately 82% of recent iPhone users upgrading within a year.
Now, Apple will name its operating systems for the iPhone and other devices based on the year they become available to most consumers. Consequently, users can anticipate upgrading to iOS 26 in September 2026, along with iPadOS 26, WatchOS 26, tvOS 26, and Vision OS 26.
This new naming convention aims to streamline references to various operating systems, which have become somewhat confusing, especially as different devices utilized different versions. It also places additional pressure on Apple to continue releasing updates annually, as any lapse would be evident in the version number.
