Apple rolled out a redesigned iPhone software and a suite of new features at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, aiming to reassert its presence in the AI race while grappling with innovation delays, regulatory scrutiny, and geopolitical challenges.
Held at its Silicon Valley headquarters, the event featured the debut of “Liquid Glass,” Apple’s biggest iPhone interface redesign in a decade, and new features like a fitness “Workout Buddy” and a video game hub. The next iOS version will be rebranded as iOS 26 and is expected to launch alongside the new iPhones in September, reports AP.
While the company highlighted incremental improvements and plans for enhanced AI integration, the event lacked major announcements. Apple avoided bold promises, with CFRA analyst Angelo Zino calling the showcase a “dud.”
Much of the focus was on Apple’s delayed rollout of a smarter Siri. “This work needed more time to reach our high-quality bar,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior software executive. No timeline was given, though upgrades aren’t expected before 2025.
“The silence surrounding Siri was deafening,” said Forrester Research analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee. “We just don’t know when that will happen.”
Apple has struggled to match the AI progress of rivals like Google, Samsung, and OpenAI. Its 2023 Vision Pro headset has yet to break into the mainstream, and its once-promising Siri upgrade has slipped off marketing radars. IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo said this year’s conference was “not about disruptive innovation, but rather careful calibration.”
The tech giant also faces intensifying external pressures. It’s under legal threat from U.S. regulators over billions in annual payments from Google, and a court recently ruled against its App Store commission practices. Meanwhile, Apple is caught in President Trump’s renewed trade war with China, which complicates its manufacturing pipeline.
These compounding issues have alarmed investors. Apple’s stock has plunged 20% this year, wiping out $750 billion in market value. Once the world’s most valuable company, Apple now trails behind Microsoft and AI chipmaker Nvidia.
Apple CEO Tim Cook closed the 90-minute event by affirming the company’s direction. “Our product experience has become even more seamless and enjoyable,” he said, though investors remained skeptical — Apple shares dropped over 1% by the end of the day.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
