Summary
At WWDC24, Apple announced Apple Intelligence and updates for Apple devices. The June 10 keynote covered developer tools and privacy. It added ChatGPT access in Siri and Writing Tools.
What Apple Announced at Its 2024 Developer Conference
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 ran June 10–14. Apple announced its new AI system, software updates, and developer tools. This recap highlights news for Apple users and founders.
Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence was WWDC24’s main AI announcement. Apple described it as a new system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It would combine generative models with a user’s personal context across apps.
What Apple Intelligence Could Do
- Writing Tools: Users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in apps such as Mail and Notes.
- Image creation: Users can create images from a description or from their own photos.
- Custom emoji: Users can generate emoji from text descriptions or photos.
- Photos: Users can search photos, remove objects, and create Memories.
Apple said Siri would better understand requests and accept voice or text. It could use on-screen context and work with apps. See our Apple Intelligence preview.
Software Updates for Apple Devices
Apple announced updates for each of its operating systems. Some features used Apple Intelligence.
iOS 18
iOS 18 adds these features:
- Home Screen: Users can place apps and small app panels called widgets in open spaces.
- Control Center: Users can customize its controls, including controls from apps.
- Photos: A new view groups the library into collections.
- Messages via satellite: Users can send texts without cellular or Wi-Fi.
- Tap to Cash: Two users can tap their iPhones together to send money through Apple Wallet.
iPadOS 18
iPadOS 18 includes the Photos and Control Center updates from iOS 18, plus iPad features:
- Smart Script: Notes can improve the appearance of handwritten text.
- Math Notes: Calculator can solve expressions that users type or write by hand.
- Floating tab bar: A floating tab bar gives users another way to navigate apps.
macOS Sequoia
macOS Sequoia adds these features:
- iPhone Mirroring: Users can view and control an iPhone from a Mac.
- Safari Highlights: Safari can surface information from a webpage.
- Personalized Spatial Audio: Players can use this audio feature with supported games.
- Passwords app: Passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and other credentials have a dedicated app.
watchOS 11
watchOS 11 adds health, fitness, and interface features:
- Vitals: Brings key health metrics and context together.
- Training Load: Tracks exercise effort and offers personalized guidance.
- Smart Stack: Changes the displayed widgets based on context.
visionOS 2
visionOS 2 adds these Vision Pro features:
- Spatial photos and videos: Users can view spatial images and video on Vision Pro.
- Mac Virtual Display: Users get new controls for the virtual Mac display.
For more on how the headset has fared with entrepreneurs, see our look at the Apple Vision Pro one year on.
tvOS 18
tvOS 18 adds these Apple TV features:
- InSight: Shows information about actors and songs in Apple TV+ films and shows.
- Audio and display support: Adds audio and display improvements.
- Customization: Adds more ways to change the Apple TV interface.
Tools for People Who Build Apps
Apple announced new tools and software frameworks for app developers.
What App Makers Could Do
- Developer APIs: Apple introduced application programming interfaces (APIs). They let apps use features in its systems.
- Private Cloud Compute: Apple said it could handle larger requests.
- App Store: Apple announced updates to help developers present their apps.
Privacy and Security
Apple said devices would process many Apple Intelligence requests. Private Cloud Compute servers could handle complex requests. Apple said the servers would not store those requests or expose them to Apple. Those were its privacy claims in June 2024.
Apple’s Optional ChatGPT Feature
Apple announced ChatGPT access in Siri and Writing Tools. With the user’s permission, Siri could send a request to ChatGPT.
Ways to Use ChatGPT on Apple Devices
- Siri: Siri can use ChatGPT for requests that need its broader knowledge.
- Writing Tools: Users can ask ChatGPT for help with text.
- Privacy: Apple said Siri would ask before sending requests to ChatGPT. It said OpenAI would not store them.
Conclusion
WWDC24 brought Apple Intelligence and software updates across Apple’s platforms. Founders can compare them with customers’ devices and workflows. See our Apple guide for entrepreneurs.
FAQ
What Was WWDC 2024?
Q: What was the main highlight of WWDC 2024? A: Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, its new AI system.
Q: When and where did WWDC 2024 take place? A: It ran online from June 10 to 14, 2024. Apple hosted an in-person event at Apple Park on opening day.
What Could Apple Intelligence Do?
Q: What is Apple Intelligence? A: It is Apple’s AI system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Q: How does Apple Intelligence improve Siri? A: Apple said Siri would better understand requests, use voice or text, and work with apps.
What Was New in iOS 18?
Q: What are the key features of iOS 18? A: Users can customize the Home Screen and Control Center. iOS 18 also redesigns Photos and adds satellite messages and Tap to Cash.
Q: Can I customize the Home Screen in iOS 18? A: Yes. Users can move apps and widgets into open spaces.
What Changed in iPadOS 18?
Q: What new features does iPadOS 18 offer? A: It adds Smart Script, Math Notes, and a floating tab bar. It also gets iOS 18’s Photos and Control Center updates.
Q: What is Smart Script in iPadOS 18? A: Smart Script improves the look of handwriting in Notes.
What Was New in macOS Sequoia?
Q: What are the major updates in macOS Sequoia? A: It adds iPhone Mirroring and Safari Highlights. It also adds Personalized Spatial Audio and a Passwords app.
Q: What is iPhone Mirroring in macOS Sequoia? A: It lets users view and control an iPhone from a Mac.
What Health and Fitness Features Did watchOS 11 Add?
Q: What new health and fitness features are available in watchOS 11? A: Vitals tracks health metrics. Training Load tracks exercise. Smart Stack updates widgets based on context.
Q: How does the Vitals app in watchOS 11 work? A: Vitals brings key health metrics and context together.
What Changed in visionOS 2?
Q: What new features does visionOS 2 bring to Apple Vision Pro? A: It adds spatial photos and videos, plus new Mac Virtual Display controls.
Q: What are spatial photos and videos in visionOS 2? A: They add depth to media viewed on Apple Vision Pro.
What Was New in tvOS 18?
Q: What are the key features of tvOS 18? A: InSight, audio and display updates, and interface customization.
Q: What is the InSight feature in tvOS 18? A: It shows actor and song details during Apple TV+ films and shows.
What Tools Did Apple Announce for App Makers?
Q: What tools did Apple announce for developers in 2024? A: Apple announced APIs, Private Cloud Compute, and App Store updates.
Q: What developer tools did Apple announce at WWDC 2024? A: APIs connect app features with Apple systems. Apple also announced Private Cloud Compute.
How Did Apple Describe Its Privacy Protections?
Q: What privacy measures did Apple describe for Apple Intelligence? A: Apple said devices would process many requests. Its servers could handle larger ones without storing them or exposing them to Apple.
Q: What privacy protections did Apple describe for ChatGPT? A: Apple said OpenAI would not store requests. It also said user IP addresses would be obscured.
How Could People Use ChatGPT with Apple Products?
Q: How could people use ChatGPT with Apple products? A: Users could ask Siri or Writing Tools to use ChatGPT. With permission, Siri could send a request, document, or photo.
Q: What can ChatGPT add to Siri? A: Siri could use ChatGPT for requests that need broader knowledge.
Resources
WWDC 2024 announcement coverage
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Daily.dev: A recap of Apple Intelligence and the 2024 platform updates.
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Apple Newsroom: Apple’s official recap of WWDC24 announcements.
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Trusted Reviews: A summary of iOS 18, Apple Intelligence, and other updates.
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CNBC: Live coverage of Apple’s WWDC24 keynote.
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MacRumors: A video and article on 18 keynote announcements.
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MacRumors: Coverage of iOS 18 customization and the redesigned Photos app.
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Tom’s Guide: Live updates on AI, iOS 18, and Siri.
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RedShark News: Analysis of Apple Intelligence and Apple’s ecosystem.
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NBC News: Live blog of the WWDC24 keynote.
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TechCrunch: A recap of Apple’s WWDC24 announcements.
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Fortune: A summary of Apple Intelligence and platform updates.
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Apple Newsroom: Apple’s announcement of Apple Intelligence for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Detailed Features and Updates
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MacRumors: A guide to iOS 18 features.
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MacRumors: An overview of iOS 18 customization and Photos updates.
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Daily.dev: A watch party recap of WWDC24.
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Trusted Reviews: iOS 18 system requirements and supported iPhones.
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Apple Developer: Official WWDC24 sessions and event details.
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CNBC: Live coverage of Apple’s 2024 developer event.
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CNBC: Background on Apple’s 2023 developer event.
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Trusted Reviews: A guide to iPadOS 18 features.
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MacRumors: A short video recap of WWDC24 announcements.
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Apple Newsroom: Fall updates to Apple services.
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Daily.dev: Background on embedded software development.
Use these sources for more WWDC24 coverage.