Apple unveils AI-focused iOS 27 and leadership transition

Apple used its annual developer conference, WWDC 2026, which kicked off yesterday, to launch a suite of artificial intelligence updates, including a revamped Siri and iOS 27. Alongside these software updates, the company announced a major leadership transition. CEO Tim Cook confirmed he will hand off his CEO duties to John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, on September 1.

The new Siri AI updates, which Apple claims will make the assistant more capable, conversational, and compatible with visual intelligence, are powered by Google’s Gemini family of models. Apple collaborated with Google to develop the next generation of Apple Foundation Models that power these integrated experiences. Despite these third-party integrations, Apple emphasized a privacy-first approach. “We believe privacy in AI is non-negotiable,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president, adding that data is only used to execute requests and can be verified by outside experts.

Beyond artificial intelligence, the iOS 27 update—which will be available to all devices from the iPhone 11 onward—includes several performance and feature updates. Notably, the release features updates to the Health app that didn’t focus enough on half its user base, adding perimenopause and menopause support to its cycle-tracking feature. It also introduces new parental controls, setting default restrictions for devices used by children younger than 13. Apple also highlighted key performance improvements:

• New photos will appear 70% more swiftly.
• AirDrop transfers will be 80% faster.

Additionally, Apple is launching a new systemwide dictation experience built into the keyboard to correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization, competing with apps like Wispr Flow and Willow. The company is also overhauling its search foundation. Stacey Ford, vice president of OS Program Management, noted that users often search for items they know are there but do not show up, prompting a rebuild of the search foundation powering Spotlight, Photos, and Mail.

The event marked Cook’s final WWDC keynote before his upcoming departure. Reflecting on his tenure, Cook expressed gratitude to the teams whose creativity and conviction have driven the company’s mission, stating his belief that Apple’s best days remain ahead under the incoming leadership of Ternus.

Why it matters

Apple is attempting to regain its footing in the competitive AI landscape by integrating third-party models like Gemini while simultaneously navigating a significant leadership change at the top.