WWDC 2026: Everything announced on Siri AI, iOS 27, Apple Intelligence, and more

Overview

At WWDC 2026 Apple rebuilt Siri around Google Gemini models, the clearest sign yet that the company chose to license outside AI rather than ship its own large model for the assistant. The keynote paired the new Siri AI with iOS 27, a release built around broad speed gains instead of one headline feature, and deeper Apple Intelligence across Messages, Phone, Safari, and Photos. Apple also confirmed this was Tim Cook's last WWDC as CEO, with John Ternus set to take over on September 1.

Key Takeaways

Siri was rebuilt from the ground up, branded Siri AI, and now runs on Google Gemini models while living in its own standalone app.
The new Siri reads what is on your screen, so a single voice request can pull flight details into your calendar and text the arrival time for you.
iOS 27 focuses on everyday speed, with photos loading up to 70 percent faster and AirDrop transfers up to 80 percent faster.
Apple Intelligence spread into core apps, adding reply suggestions in Messages, call context in Phone, tab management in Safari, and new editing tools in Photos.
Reports peg the Google deal at roughly 1 billion dollars per year for a custom model built on 1.2 trillion parameters, with terms barring Google from training on Siri queries.
Tim Cook gave his final WWDC keynote as CEO, with hardware chief John Ternus taking the top job on September 1.

Stats & Key Facts

#Roughly 1 billion dollars per year is the reported cost of Apple's licensing deal with Google for the custom Gemini model.
#1.2 trillion parameters is the reported scale of the custom Google model powering Siri, far above Apple's earlier on-device models.
#Photos load up to 70 percent faster in iOS 27.
#AirDrop transfers run up to 80 percent faster in iOS 27.
#Apps open up to 30 percent faster, and iPadOS file transfers move up to five times quicker.
#iOS 27 supports iPhone 11 and later, the widest compatibility range in iOS history.

Siri AI Rebuilt on Google Gemini Models

Siri was the centerpiece of the keynote and the biggest strategic shift.

Apple rebuilt the assistant from the ground up, branded it Siri AI, and put Google Gemini models under the hood. The new Siri lives in its own standalone app while still working across existing apps. Apple says it reads what is on your screen, so you hold the side button, ask it to add flight details to your calendar, and it creates the event and texts the arrival time for you.

The shift matters because Apple chose to license outside AI rather than ship its own large model for Siri. The move follows years of Siri struggling with multi-step requests, and pairing the assistant with Gemini gives it a far larger model to reason over conversational, on-screen tasks.

The Google Partnership and Apple's Privacy Framing

Apple built the Gemini deal around privacy commitments and a split of where requests run.

›Reports peg the deal at roughly 1 billion dollars per year for a custom Google model built on 1.2 trillion parameters.
›Contract terms reportedly bar Google from training future models on Siri queries.
›Complex requests route to Google Cloud hardware with confidential computing turned on.
›Simpler tasks stay on the device, keeping routine queries local.
›Apple frames the arrangement around the promise that data is used only to execute your request.

iOS 27 Speed Gains Instead of One Headline Feature

iOS 27 leans on broad performance wins users feel without changing anything.

›Photo previews load up to 70 percent faster.
›AirDrop transfers run up to 80 percent faster.
›Apps open up to 30 percent faster, helped by CPU scheduler improvements for multitasking.
›File transfers on iPadOS move up to five times quicker.
›The update supports iPhone 11 and later, so older hardware stays in the cycle.

Apple Intelligence Spreads Into Messages, Phone, Safari, and Photos

The keynote pushed AI features deeper into the apps people use daily.

›Messages gained AI reply suggestions.
›The Phone app pulls real-time context from Mail and Messages during calls.
›Safari added tab management and one-tap password updates.
›Photos added Reframe and Extend tools plus a stronger generative Cleanup feature.
›Systemwide dictation now corrects spelling and punctuation as you speak, and Shortcuts uses natural language to build automations.

Liquid Glass Refinements, Health Tracking, and Parental Controls

Apple polished last year's design and added practical everyday features.

›The Liquid Glass design got a more layered approach within apps plus opt-in rollbacks for users who prefer the older look.
›Health added perimenopause and menopause tracking.
›Parental controls gained Ask to Browse and Ask to Buy, on by default.
›The App Store added subscription bundles and personalized recommendations.
›Other touches included full-screen home screen widgets and separate volume controls for alarms, timers, and alerts.

Tim Cook's Final WWDC and the John Ternus Handover

The keynote marked the end of an era for Apple leadership.

This was Tim Cook's final WWDC as CEO. John Ternus, the senior vice president of hardware engineering, takes over the chief executive role on September 1, marking the biggest Apple leadership change in more than a decade.

Pairing that handover with the Gemini deal frames a turning point for the company. The 1.2 trillion parameter figure puts the licensed model far above Apple's earlier on-device foundation models in scale, signaling a willingness to partner on AI rather than build every layer in house.

What the Changes Mean for Everyday Users

For non-technical readers, the practical impact is simpler than the technology behind it.

The headline change is that Siri should finally handle multi-step requests it used to fumble, like turning a single spoken instruction into a calendar event and a text message. That depends on the new app, the on-screen awareness, and the Gemini model working together.

The speed numbers are the kind of gains people notice without learning anything new. Faster photo loads, quicker AirDrop, and apps that open sooner add up across a normal day, and supporting iPhone 11 and later means many existing owners get the improvements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Siri AI and how is it different from the old Siri?

Siri AI is Apple's rebuilt assistant, now running on Google Gemini models and living in its own standalone app. It reads what is on your screen and handles multi-step requests, such as adding flight details to your calendar and texting an arrival time from a single voice command.

How much does Apple's deal with Google reportedly cost?

Secondary reports peg the deal at roughly 1 billion dollars per year for a custom Google model built on 1.2 trillion parameters. These figures come from reporting rather than Apple's official statement.

Does using Google Gemini mean Google sees my Siri data?

Apple frames the deal around privacy and says contract terms bar Google from training future models on Siri queries. Complex requests route to Google Cloud hardware with confidential computing turned on, while simpler tasks stay on the device.

Which iPhones support iOS 27?

iOS 27 supports iPhone 11 and later, which Apple describes as the widest compatibility range in iOS history. The release focuses on speed gains, including photos loading up to 70 percent faster and AirDrop running up to 80 percent faster.

Who is taking over as Apple CEO?

John Ternus, the senior vice president of hardware engineering, takes over as CEO on September 1, following Tim Cook's final WWDC. It is the biggest Apple leadership change in more than a decade.

WWDC 2026 tied a major AI strategy shift to a leadership change, with Siri rebuilt on Google Gemini, iOS 27 built around everyday speed, and John Ternus set to lead Apple from September 1. The practical payoff for users is an assistant that handles real multi-step tasks and a phone that simply feels faster.