Apple’s 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference featured a mix of updates and AI improvements, with a notable shift in how it presented its new features. The company demonstrated several AI capabilities using a live-like format, with users interacting with devices in real time, rather than relying on pre-recorded videos. This approach was seen as a response to past criticisms of its 2024 demos, which were later labeled as vaporware due to delayed feature rollouts. Apple’s new strategy aimed to convey that the features now work on actual devices and are closer to release. Source: techcrunch
The changes in presentation style were partly a reaction to a $250 million settlement Apple reached in March 2026 with a federal court over false advertising claims related to its 2024 WWDC event. At that time, Apple had promised features would be available to iPhone 15 Pro and newer devices with M1 chips, but delivery was delayed. The lawsuit highlighted concerns about the company’s track record of making bold claims without delivering on them. Apple’s new demos were intended to show progress and reassure users that the features are now functional and on track for release. Source: techcrunch
Apple also expanded access to the new Siri features, making them available on a broader range of devices. The updated Siri will be part of iOS 27 and accessible on iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models, as well as other Apple hardware like the iPad mini, MacBook Neo, and Apple Watch models. This decision suggests Apple is not using hardware upgrades as a primary driver for feature adoption, at least for now. Source: techcrunch
