Biannews reported on June 11 that the keynote address at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) has come to a close, with the company having plenty to share. For the first time, we got a glimpse of the upcoming AI features on Apple devices and some significant updates to the company's operating systems. If you missed the live keynote, you can check out all the announcements below, but chances are you'll be disappointed. 1. Apple's First AI System Coming to iPhone, iPad, and Mac

With almost every major tech company joining the AI craze, it's no surprise that Apple is launching its own AI system. Apple Intelligence is the company's new personal intelligence system that places powerful generative models at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This brings a plethora of new capabilities to Apple's native apps, such as the ability to generate images or summarize text. Apple Intelligence places a heavy emphasis on security, as the system automatically decides whether to process on-device or contact Apple's private cloud computing servers to fulfill your requests. The system will be available free of charge, compatible with iPhone 15 Pro and iPad and Mac models equipped with the M1 chip and above.

2. Siri Gets a Huge AI Boost

Another big move by Apple in the AI space involves Siri. The updated voice assistant will now be more deeply integrated into the iPhone, appearing as a pulsating light on the device's edge. It will give you better control over your apps, allowing you to ask the voice assistant to find information in specific emails or even show a picture of one of your friends. Apple relies on AI to help Siri better understand what you say and track follow-up requests and questions.

3. Apple Is Integrating ChatGPT into Siri

Siri's significant AI upgrade also includes integration with OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot. Through the new integration, Siri will automatically determine if a query is better suited for ChatGPT. It will then seek your permission before sending the request to ChatGPT. You'll be able to use ChatGPT through Siri for free, without an account.

4. New AI Features in Mail, Messages, Photos, and More

Apple is introducing a range of new AI features to its apps in iOS 18, including a way to summarize emails and generate replies. The company showcased its new Genmoji feature, which allows you to create custom emojis based on text prompts, and a new AI image generator called Image Playground. Apple is also bringing AI to the Photos app, enabling you to search for photos using natural language. You can also clean up objects in the background of images, similar to Google's Magic Eraser. Additionally, Apple has added AI transcription and summary features to the Notes and Phone apps.

5. iOS 18 Makes the iPhone More Customizable

In addition to all the AI, Apple is introducing a new, more customizable Control Center in iOS 18. It's also rolling out a way to freely place app icons on the Home screen. The company will also allow you to lock certain apps in the upcoming update to prevent others from using them when you hand your phone over. Other significant changes include a redesign of the Photos app and a new Gaming Mode for iPhone that minimizes background activity to optimize gameplay.

6. iPhone Finally Gets RCS Support

After announcing support for RCS last year, Apple has confirmed that it will be rolling out RCS with iOS 18. However, beyond that, Apple hasn't revealed any other details. iMessage has also received some upgrades, including the ability to schedule text messages and support for sending text messages via satellite. Apple has also introduced colorful Tapback options that allow you to bold, underline, and italicize text.

7. Apple TV Plus Adds inSights Feature to Tell You Who's on Screen

Apple TV Plus is introducing a new feature that allows you to swipe down on the remote to display the actors and their roles in the movie or TV show you're watching. You can also find the currently playing song and add it to your Apple Music playlist. Apple TV Plus automatically displays subtitles when you mute the program and supports 21:9 projectors.

8. A Password App to Track Your Login Information

As rumored last week, Apple has released a new password app that allows you to track login details across different devices. The app lets you generate and store passwords similar to other password managers like LastPass and 1Password. The passwords will be available on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS, and even Windows.

9. iPadOS 18 Adds a Calculator App with Apple Pencil Support

After over a decade, the iPad finally gets a calculator app. It comes with a new feature called Math Notes, where you can write down equations on the iPad using the Apple Pencil and let the app solve them for you. Apple has also introduced a Smart Script feature that leverages machine learning to improve the look of your handwriting and spell-check your notes.

10. macOS 15 Will Allow You to Mirror Your iPhone

Apple's next macOS update will allow you to mirror your iPhone on a Mac. You'll be able to interact directly with your iPhone from your Mac, checking notifications and listening to audio playing on your mobile device. Safari is also introducing a new Highlights feature that uses machine learning to pick out interesting parts of a page.

11. Apple Will Automatically Display Widgets in watchOS 11

watchOS 11 brings a slew of new features, including a new capability to automatically add widgets based on your needs. Apple has introduced a new Vitals app that gives you a snapshot of your most important health metrics, along with new cycle tracking features, real-time activity, and check-in support, allowing loved ones to track you during your workouts.

12. visionOS 2 Adds Spatial Photos and Ultra-Wide Mac Displays

Apple announced visionOS 2, the first major update to the operating system. A new feature in Vision Pro leverages machine learning to add depth to existing photos. The update will also introduce support for ultra-wide virtual Mac displays, more intuitive gestures, and support for train travel mode. Apple also plans to expand Vision Pro to more countries, including China, Singapore, Australia, Canada, France, and the UK.

13. The Next AirPods Pro Update Will Let You Respond to Siri Silently

Apple will introduce Siri interaction capabilities in the next AirPods Pro software update, allowing you to shake your head to indicate "yes" or "no" in response to Siri's announcements. AirPods Pro also comes with a voice isolation feature to improve voice quality and reduce background noise.

Biannews Comment: Apple's Solitude and Altman's Ascendance

This highly anticipated Apple AI event might indicate the company's trends and directions for the next decade. After dominating the mobile internet era, Apple wants to rule the AI era as well. However, in reality, the event was quite awkward. Features like iOS call recording and the iPad calculator became highlights of the event, which makes one embarrassed for Apple.

Despite forming an AI partnership with OpenAI, allowing Siri to automatically determine if a query is better suited for ChatGPT and seeking permission before sending requests, allowing users to use ChatGPT through Siri for free without an account, this seems redundant. Can't users just open ChatGPT directly?

No wonder the capital market reacted by sending Apple's stock price down 2% after the event. Elon Musk, the notorious troublemaker, went even further, stating that Apple couldn't develop AI and adding that if Apple integrated OpenAI at the operating system level, Apple devices would be banned from his company. This is unacceptable security malpractice.

Musk runs Tesla and SpaceX. He also has his own AI startup, xAI, with a chatbot named Grok. He added that visitors must check their Apple devices at the door, and the devices will be stored in Faraday cages, devices that block electromagnetic fields. Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO and co-founder Sam Altman appeared at WWDC 2024.

His appearance at the annual event was not surprising, given that the two sides have already formed a partnership.

However, Altman's role was limited to taking photos with the audience and chatting casually, completing a low-key walk-on performance.

Don't underestimate these seemingly casual moves; they are a clear indication that the power shift in Silicon Valley has moved from Apple to OpenAI, with Altman poised to become a hot commodity in the valley over the next decade. From a fledgling entrepreneur on the Apple stage to a crucial AI partner, Altman's emergence is a microcosm of the changing power dynamics in Silicon Valley. In 2008, the 23-year-old Altman launched his app Loopt at an Apple Developer Conference, leveraging the emerging App Store to expand its influence. Altman's excitement reflected the technological optimism of that era. Fast forward to today, his company, OpenAI, is renowned for its progress in generative AI and has found an ally in Apple, the tech giant that once inspired his early ambitions. Currently, Apple is leveraging OpenAI's capabilities in an effort to catch up in the AI space. Apple's integration of OpenAI's ChatGPT into iOS aims to enhance its ecosystem by leveraging the capabilities of the AI chatbot. While Altman himself wasn't the focus of Apple's upcoming WWDC, this partnership will serve as the cornerstone of the event, marking a significant shift in the power balance in the tech industry. The strong only develop independently; only the lagging ones form alliances.

While Apple once led the way in AI services with Siri, the company found itself lagging behind as competitors rapidly advanced. Siri has never stood out as a killer app in over a decade. While OpenAI didn't hold any press conferences, the 39-year-old Altman was the true king of this event.

His eyes are filled with visions of conquering the AI world, while Apple inevitably faces the twilight of its hero.