Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 begins today in Cupertino, California, with the tech world closely watching for updates on artificial intelligence, iOS software changes, and potential hardware surprises. While last year’s WWDC brought the debut of Apple Intelligence, this year’s event is expected to deliver more grounded yet important advancements.

iOS 26 and a design refresh inspired by Vision Pro

One of the biggest expected changes is a visual overhaul of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, taking cues from visionOS — the interface used in the Vision Pro headset. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman calls this the most significant stylistic change for iOS since 2013 and for macOS since 2020. Notable updates include redesigned icons, menus, and a sleeker Camera app interface. YouTuber Jon Prosser revealed early glimpses of these changes in a video preview.

Apple is also shifting to a new naming convention, where software versions will reflect the release year. That means iOS 26 instead of iOS 19 in 2025.

AI features coming in bits and pieces

While AI may not be the headliner this year, Apple is still adding meaningful AI-powered tools. A smarter battery manager will optimize performance based on user behavior, and real-time AI translation on AirPods is expected to make conversations across languages easier—though both users may need AirPods for it to work effectively.

Apple is also laying the groundwork for developers to build AI apps directly on iPhones by opening up its own large language models (LLMs). This could pave the way for richer on-device AI experiences and boost Apple’s position in the AI race.

AirPods as hearing aids and gaming upgrades

Beyond AI, Apple may enhance its AirPods Pro with improved hearing aid features, continuing its push into health tech. Additionally, a new centralized gaming app is reportedly in the works, replacing the underused Game Center. With Apple dominating the mobile gaming market through the App Store, this move signals stronger ambitions in the console-level gaming space.

A potential hardware teaser?

While no major hardware announcements are confirmed, there’s always a possibility of a surprise reveal. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 later this year, rumored to be significantly slimmer—possibly supported by today’s software updates for better synergy.

Stay tuned as live updates from Cupertino begin rolling in today. Apple’s WWDC 2025 might not deliver shockwaves, but it could shape the company’s direction for the next decade—especially in AI and software innovation.