Apple has officially announced that its highly anticipated annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) will commence on June 10. This year, the event, which has historically served as a platform for significant Apple software announcements, is expected to spotlight the company’s advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). The conference will take place from Monday, June 10, through Friday, June 14.
Last year’s WWDC highlighted the introduction of the Vision Pro mixed reality headset, which subsequently hit the markets in February. However, the focus this year is projected to shift towards Apple’s endeavors in artificial intelligence. There are reports that Apple is considering integrating Google’s Gemini AI engine into its forthcoming devices. This engine encompasses a range of AI tools, including advanced chatbots, which could potentially be featured in the upcoming iPhones and within the iOS 18 updates.
As the tech industry increasingly invests in AI, with numerous companies advancing rapidly in this field, Apple has been relatively less vocal about its AI strategies. A collaboration with Google on the Gemini AI engine might propel Apple into the forefront of the ongoing AI arms race, marking a significant strategic move for the company.
Further demonstrating its commitment to AI, Apple researchers have recently developed a new family of multimodal models known as MM1. These models are capable of interpreting and generating different types of data simultaneously, such as text and images. According to a report from Apple researchers, these models exhibit “superior abilities” and are designed to provide advanced reasoning and in-context learning capabilities, enhancing how they respond to both text and images.
In addition to its AI advancements, Apple’s press release on Tuesday also outlined that WWDC 2024 will feature updates across its range of devices including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and the Vision Pro headset. This comprehensive update aims to keep developers and users informed about the latest software enhancements and integrations expected in the coming year.
