
The triumph of WWDC 2025 depends on Apple Intelligence. Here's what it requires to
It's that time of year again when Apple reveals the dates for its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), sending the tech community into a whirlwind of speculation about what surprises it has in store for its eager fans. With the week-long event beginning on June 9, the countdown has officially begun.
Typically, the announcement of WWDC sparks excitement over Apple’s upcoming operating systems, including iOS 19 and macOS 16, along with the possibility of some intriguing new hardware that Apple may be keeping under wraps.
Usually, I would be looking forward to what I would like to see in macOS 16 (and believe me, I'm still considering it). However, I haven't been dwelling on that as much as I typically do in recent weeks.
The reason is straightforward. This year, Apple must concentrate on one critical aspect at WWDC 2025: Apple Intelligence. The company's artificial intelligence (AI) system must take center stage on June 9, and there are ample reasons for this necessity.
Apple's AI Challenges
Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends
It has been a challenging year since the introduction of Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024. Currently, the AI platform has limited capabilities, such as rewriting text or generating simple images, features that competitors have offered for years. It lacks advanced functionalities, which are experiencing significant delays. Additionally, it has garnered negative publicity due to its unreliable notification summaries, which is enough to concern any tech firm. As Apple analyst John Gruber noted, much of the Apple Intelligence showcased at WWDC 2024 resembled a prolonged tech demo, and we were not aware of that at the time. Several of the most exciting features and upgrades announced were not even close to being ready then, and they still are not. This has left Apple Intelligence feeling quite hollow. While it functions and can be used in various ways, the most intriguing and compelling features remain absent.
In the tech landscape, where progress is swift, this could lead to significant repercussions. Apple’s competitors are not idle; advancements such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot are rapidly evolving and making Apple appear inadequate. Every day that delays in Apple Intelligence features continue only serves to widen the gap.
Apple’s Most Crucial Event in Years
Apple
Consequently, WWDC 2025 might be the most critical Apple event seen in recent times. There is a heavy burden of expectations on the company that I have not witnessed before, with immense pressure to deliver and quell the critics.
There are indications that Apple is treating this year’s WWDC with great urgency. A glance at its product lineup reveals that it has streamlined its offerings over the past months.
With nearly all iPhones, iPads, and Macs updated within the past year, most Apple devices are now operating on the latest architecture. This is vital because it means Apple doesn’t need to reveal new devices at WWDC, allowing more time to advocate for Apple Intelligence. Given how much ground it has to make up, Apple will want every moment it can secure.
Yet, we must also consider that Apple not only needs to catch up with its rivals but must also exceed them. The unfavorable press surrounding Apple Intelligence has made merely catching up insufficient.
Apple
Let’s reflect on Apple’s resources. It is one of the most profitable corporations in history, with vast financial resources at its disposal. It also benefits from the unique position of controlling both its hardware and software, which should provide its AI with a significant advantage, as it can access the underlying mechanisms of its products in ways that no other AI can.
This creates heightened expectations. Individuals want to be impressed and wish to see that Apple can be the best, not just "adequate." WWDC is the perfect opportunity for that, particularly since its primary audience consists of developers and enthusiasts eager to leverage Apple Intelligence.
The unfortunate news is that it appears some of the very features that could showcase Apple’s advantages have reportedly been postponed. According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, the most advanced Siri functionalities may not arrive until 2026 or even 2027, pushing them well beyond this year's WWDC. This implies Apple must find alternative ways to leave an impression.
What I Hope to See
Apple
I've been contemplating the ways Apple must enhance Apple Intelligence, and the issue is that most of the crucial improvements have been reported to be postponed, according to leaks and rumors. This constrains Apple’s options, except for some significant secret that could truly astonish us.
Nonetheless, there are still several new features Apple could introduce that would make Apple Intelligence more competitive with its rivals. These features should not be too complex for Apple to reveal in the coming weeks.
For starters, I believe Apple should provide more advanced image generation tools. Currently, the Image Playground lives up to its name: it’s a fun little novelty but little more than that. It's quite basic and cannot compete with more sophisticated tools like Midjourney or Stable Diffusion. Even offering





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The triumph of WWDC 2025 depends on Apple Intelligence. Here's what it requires to
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