macOS 15 will get a big AI boost: what to expect at WWDC 2024

Apple's annual coding-based event, the Worldwide Developer Conference, will be happening from June 10 to June 14. It is usually the time when Apple shows off its fall operating system updates as it prepares developers for various feature changes on the way.

Though hardware has been highlighted at WWDC sometimes, the core of the conference is still Apple's operating system announcements. This includes its long-running macOS, which will get an annual upgrade alongside the rest of Apple's software later in 2024.

Based on what the rumor mill is claiming, this is what to expect from Apple's macOS announcements for WWDC.

Big AI and Siri changes

Just as there is considerable expectation for iOS 18 to get some AI additions as part of its WWDC changes, many of those elements should also make their way over to macOS as well.

Aside from comments from Tim Cook and Greg Joswiak effectively confirming AI will be a feature of the event, there have been various stories about Apple's machine learning work that seem primed for launch.

For a start, Apple's famous digital assistant Siri is expected to receive a massive upgrade for 2024. This includes claims of investing $1 billion into adding AI to Siri, and suggestions that generative AI elements are on the way.

Apple has also made many acquisitions and investments in the category in recent years, and has repeatedly referenced AI or machine learning in its job ads.

Though there have been murmurs of Apple having an internal chatbot, it seems unlikely that a public-facing version will be available in the near future.

That said, Apple has allegedly been testing multiple AI models in iOS betas. Two versions of an internal LLM, AjaxGPT, have been spotted in beta release code, indicating that on-device and off-device processing has been trialled.

While chiefly an iOS rumor, any Siri changes should filter through to the Mac.

Non-Siri AI

While Siri is the main focal point of AI work, Apple is also anticipated to bring out other AI changes that will impact macOS in other ways. Chiefly, this is in adding features to apps and services.

Apple's iWork productivity tool collection is one such example. Rumors claim changes to apps such as Pages and Keynote could benefit from auto-completion and summarization tools, which could help users produce content more easily.

Helping further the iWork rumors is Apple's purchase of the domain name "iWork.ai."

The app-based changes won't necessarily be limited to just productivity tools. For example, Apple Music is anticipated to include some form of AI additions, with the automated generation of playlists a top favorite for inclusion.

Continuing with general user features, Apple has released research papers that could become tools for end users to enjoy. For example, it has already offered an AI-based image editing model called MGIE.

There's also the research paper for "Keyframer," a generative AI app that allows users to create an animated image using generative AI.

There have been forecasts of an App Store for AI, which could enable users to buy specific LLMs or chatbot apps. This may not be a separate storefront, as it could easily become a section within the main App Store itself.

Xcode's AI additions

More important to developers watching WWDC will be Xcode, and how AI elements will be included in the development suite.

The main claim is that new tools in Xcode will use AI to predict and automatically complete blocks of code. For developers this could save time in writing code elements for apps, as well as potentially reducing the amount of bugs caused by spelling mistakes, missing, or additional elements.

There is also the possibility of using AI to generate code for testing applications, saving developers time in a particularly tedious process.

Not only would these improvements be beneficial to existing developers, but they could also help those new to coding get into the field and create their first apps. This would especially be useful to Apple, as that would mean the App Store will be filled up with more apps to sell.

Apple has apparently been testing its features in-house with its own engineers to hammer out any issues. While there's no firm timeline for their introduction, a WWDC 2024 introduction is certainly a possibility.

Accessibility

In March, it was reported that iOS 18 and macOS 15 will gain some new accessibility features, with the list seemingly covering both operating systems.

For example, Voice Shortcuts should allow users to run some elements without needing the "Hey Siri" prompt at all. However, that may be limited to just running accessibility features.

Speaking of voice, Live Speech could get an organization upgrade. The text-to-speech feature may end up with category labels for premade phrases to speed up selection, as well as a bunch of new icons.

Font resizing is already available for some built-in apps, but it's handled on a per-app basis. For 2024, this could be expanded to more Apple-made apps, as well as the Menu Bar, and possibly with more of a global control.

Apps: Maps, Messages, and Freeform

Some changes expected in macOS don't involve AI at all.

First, Apple Maps for iOS 18 is expected to include the ability to set custom routes while planning a trip. Currently, users can only select from a list of most-likely routes from a list when generating a journey, then can manually add stops afterward.

While this is chiefly an iOS 18 feature, it seems plausible that Apple could add the same function to the macOS version, if only for cross-platform compatibility.

Freeform, Apple's collaborative creative productivity tool, is also expected to gain an improvement for navigating its infinite canvas. By creating "Scenes," users can send viewers of the document to specific sections of the workspace, making it easier to find specific things.

Though largely iOS-centric, Apple is anticipated to include RCS messaging support in Messages this fall. Just like Maps, such a change to the iOS version of the app will also be incorporated into the macOS edition for compatibility purposes.

What about the name?

While there's not really been any rumors about whether there have been any user interface changes inbound, we can at least speculate a tiny bit about something else that's important: the name.

There is a running joke in WWDC that claims Apple has a crack team of marketing gurus who go on an "adventure" to determine the name of the next macOS version. As with all continuing gags, it'll probably return for 2024's keynote.

As for what the name could be, no-one really knows at the moment, but it's very likely to follow the current convention of locations in California.

There is always a chance that Apple could use the massive AI changes as an excuse to change its naming system to something new. After seven versions using names of big cats, it's entirely plausible for Apple to think that 11 generations of place-named macOS versions is a bit much.

If Apple did shift to a new name system, all bets are off on what the next macOS could end up being called.