WWDC 2025 Preview: Apple Aims to Reclaim AI Momentum With ‘Apple Intelligence,’ UI Overhaul, and Smart Home Tease

Apple’s 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off on Monday, June 9, with the keynote address scheduled for 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. This year’s event arrives with more scrutiny than usual, as investors and users alike look for signs that Apple’s AI push—branded “Apple Intelligence”—is not just catching up to competitors, but leading in ways only Apple can. Expectations are high for a broad software refresh, an update on delayed Siri functionality, and possibly even a sneak peek at a new smart home device dubbed the “HomePad.”

Watch: Tortoise Capital's Rob Thummel explains the relationship between power and AI.

Much of the attention will be on Apple Intelligence. At last year’s WWDC, Apple debuted ambitious plans to turn Siri into a contextual, action-based assistant that could pull data across apps, understand more complex requests, and streamline digital tasks. But that promise has largely gone unfulfilled, with many of the features still MIA in iOS 18. This year’s event is expected to reset the narrative. Apple will likely emphasize new developer APIs tied to its LLMs and showcase productivity features like on-device battery optimization, app summarization, and multimodal input handling. However, Bloomberg and other sources warn that a full Siri 2.0 unveiling remains unlikely until 2026—something Apple must address candidly if it hopes to maintain credibility with investors and its 2.35 billion-strong user base.

This makes WWDC 2025 less about the immediate feature set and more about demonstrating direction. Apple's reputation has always rested on tight integration across hardware, software, and services. That vertical stack—and control over its own silicon—still gives Apple a differentiated position in the AI arms race. But with Google and Samsung pressing their advantage and OpenAI capturing headlines, Apple has to prove that its cautious rollout reflects refinement rather than inertia.

Compounding the pressure is the lack of hardware drama. While WWDC is traditionally a software-centric event, Apple has occasionally unveiled products like the HomePod or Mac Pro. This year, no major launches are expected—but speculation is building around a potential preview of the "HomePad" a rumored smart home hub with a detachable screen, A18 chip, and deep ties to Apple’s AI ecosystem. The device could unify FaceTime, intercom, home automation, and possibly security into a single living room console. While the HomePad isn’t expected to ship until 2026, a visual or API-based preview could rally developer support and show off the AI features Apple is baking into future products.

Meanwhile, the software refresh will be a major storyline. Apple is expected to unveil iOS 26, macOS 26 (“Tahoe”), iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26—all sharing a unified naming structure and a dramatically updated UI. The visual overhaul reportedly draws inspiration from Apple’s Vision Pro headset, with rounder icons, glass-like interface elements, and improved continuity between devices. The goal: make transitions between iPhone, iPad, and Mac seamless, reinforcing the sense of a single, elegant Apple ecosystem.

iPadOS in particular could get a long-awaited productivity bump, with enhanced window management and multitasking tools that may finally justify the “Pro” in iPad Pro. Stage Manager was a step in that direction, but the bar is higher now. If Apple nails the software experience, the iPad could close the usability gap with MacBooks—especially important as it fends off high-end tablets from Microsoft and Samsung.

Another potential debut is a centralized Apple gaming app, merging elements of Game Center with Apple Arcade and offering cross-platform sync, leaderboards, matchmaking, and curated editorial content. This would be a nod to both developers and consumers as Apple seeks to reassert its relevance in the growing casual and mobile gaming spaces.

Investor sentiment around Apple heading into WWDC is a mix of anticipation and impatience. Citi analysts noted that while the delayed Siri features are a drag, Apple’s long-term positioning in personal AI remains intact. It owns the hardware, OS, App Store, and cloud—and it has an enormous dataset derived from daily usage across a massive install base. The question is execution. Apple needs to assure developers and shareholders that the AI gap with rivals is closing, and that 2024 was a setup year, not a stall-out.

In terms of the stock, the reaction will likely hinge on how much of Apple’s AI ambition is tangible versus aspirational. A vague roadmap or another promise to “ship next year” could disappoint. A clear demo, developer tools, and a firm timeline—even if some features remain six months out—would likely be viewed as constructive.

What won’t be at WWDC is almost as important as what will. Don’t expect new iPhones, Macs, or Apple Watches. The so-called iPhone Air, with its rumored ultra-slim form factor and AI-powered battery optimization, is expected in the fall alongside the iPhone 17 lineup. And any major Siri hardware integrations or health tech like Project Mulberry, Apple’s rumored AI health coach, may be hinted at but are unlikely to launch this week.

Still, this keynote matters. WWDC 2025 is Apple’s opportunity to reposition itself as a leader in the AI-driven future of personal computing. And for investors looking for proof that Apple still innovates beyond hardware cycles and camera bumps, Monday’s presentation could be the most consequential in years.