ith Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference approaching, all eyes are on the company’s latest software updates to see whether its long-awaited AI features are finally shipping.
On Tuesday, the company launched its latest batch of software updates across its entire ecosystem, including iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, macOS Tahoe 26.4, watchOS 26.4, visionOS 26.4, and tvOS 26.4. The update did feature Apple Intelligence updates, but the biggest highlight was not an update to Siri, but rather, a new Playlist Playground feature, released in beta.
With the feature, Apple Music users can create playlists using natural language prompts in seconds. The descriptions can include moods, activities, artists, and more, and Playlist Platform will curate a title and playlist with relevant songs, similar to Spotify’s Prompted Playlists feature. Other updates include:
- Live Translation in Messages: Expanded access to the feature, now including 17 languages and locales
- Freeform: Apple’s whiteboarding application joins the Apple Creator Studio and features advanced image creation and editing tools and a premium content library
- Hold Assist: Expanded language support for the AI feature that can detect when you are on hold on a call and alert you when someone comes on the line
- Non-AI: Highlights include eight new emojis, offline music recognition, an Ambient Music widget for Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Well Being; and Accessibility updates, such as improved “reduce Motion” for Liquid Glass
Glaringly missing from the release was the expected launch of the redesigned Siri, which users have been anticipating since WWDC 2024. However, it seems like users won’t have to wait much longer to satisfy their AI appetite. Just yesterday, Apple announced the date of WWDC 2026, which will take place on June 8 and feature “AI advancements and exciting new software and developer tools.”
Bloomberg’s Apple watcher, Mark Gurman, reported that Apple is planning to release a modernized Siri with a new look and a chatbot-like interface, which will be unveiled at WWDC, citing people familiar with the matter.
The new Siri would finally fulfill the promise of tapping into users’ personal data, such as messages, notes, and emails, to have better context and provide better assistance, be more conversational, and complete tasks within apps. Later in the year, Apple is looking to launch a new dedicated Siri app for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, Gurman added.
Our Deeper View
Beyond the features already mentioned, the report points to further Siri upgrades, including a redesigned interface. Together, these developments signal that Apple is finally positioned to deliver what users have long demanded: A helpful native AI assistant, restoring its credibility and establishing it as a serious AI contender. With so much at stake, a WWDC release looks like the right call. It creates a marquee moment for the announcement while giving Apple the time it needed to get it right.