Apple iOS 26 with liquid glass (from developer beta).
Jason Hinar/ZDNET
Apple Worldwide Developers’ Conference (WWDC) was expected to have very little AI news – but Apple proved everyone wrong.
Even though Apple has not yet launched the much -awaited Siri upgrade – the company said that we will hear more about it in the coming year – when it came at the time of the event last week, Apple made a sleeve of AI features in its equipment and operating systems, including iOS, Macos, Watchos and Ipados.
Also: ZDNET’s WWDC 2025 Recurrence with Sabrina Orties and Jason Hinar
While the features were not the most attractive, many of them address issues that Apple users had long with their equipment or in their everyday workflows, while others are completely fun.
I collected the AI AI features and rank them according to what I am the most excited to use and what people are discussing the web.
1. Visible intelligence
Apple introduced visual intelligence last year with the launch of the iPhone 16. At that time, it allowed users to take photos of objects around them and then used the AI ability of the iPhone to find them and find more information. Last week, Apple upgraded the experience by adding visual intelligence to the iPhone screen.
To use it, you just have to take a screenshot. Visual intelligence can use Apple Intelligence to grab details from your screenshot and suggest tasks, such as adding an event to your calendar. You can also use “Ask button” to ask for chatgpt for help with a particular image. This is useful for the tasks in which Chatgpt can provide help, such as solving a puzzle. You can also tap on “search” to look at the web.
Also: Your entire iPhone screen can now be discovered with new visual intelligence features
Although Google already offered the same capacity, to search with the circle, it is a major win for Apple users, as it is functional and was well executed. It takes advantage of the already competent model of the chatgupt rather than trying to make one inferior.
2. Real -time translation
Since generative AI exploded in popularity, a useful application that has emerged is a real -time translation. Because LLM has a deep understanding of language and how people speak, they are able to use speech not only literally but also additional references. Apple will roll this powerful ability with a new real -time translation feature in its own equipment.
Also: Apple Intelligence is getting more languages - and AI -operated translation
This feature can translate the text on facetime and phone calls and text in audio. If you are using it for oral conversations, you just click on a button on your call, which alerts another person that is going to be live translated. After a speaker saying something, there is a brief stagnation, and then you get audio response with a converted version of what you said in the language of your choice, with a transcript you can follow with you.
This feature is valuable as it can help people communicate with each other. It is also easy to access because it is being cooked in communication platforms who already trust every day.
3. Automics in Apple Music
Automics feature AI uses AI to add uninterrupted infections from one song to another, it mimics what DJ time will do with stretching and beat matching. In the Settings app on beta, Apple says, “Based on the analysis of the music and the analysis of the tempo, the songs in the right moment transition.”
Also: Your Apple CarPlay is getting a big update: 3 useful features are coming with iOS 26
It works closely with the Autopley feature, so if you are playing a song, like a DJ, it can play another song that matches the vibes, while it is basically an infection for it. Many users are already trying on their devices in developer beta and carrying very impressive results on social media.
4. Apple Intelligence on-device is now available to developers
Apple made its on-device model available to developers for the first time, and although it may seem that it will only benefit the developers, this is a major win for all users. Apple has a strong community of developers that create applications for Apple’s operating system.
Tapping in the talent by allowing to build on Apple Intelligence almost guarantees that more innovative and useful applications will be revealed using Apple Intelligence, which are beneficial for all users as they will be able to take advantage of them.
5. Shortcut using Apple Intelligence
The shortcut update was easy to remember during the update kenot, but it is one of the best use cases for AI. If you are like me, you usually avoid programming shortcuts because they look very complicated to make. This is the place where Apple Intelligence can help.
Also: My favorite iPhone productivity feature got a major upgrade with just iOS 26 (and it’s not Siri)
With new intelligent actions, you can tap within your shortcut in the Apple Intelligence model either on-device or private cloud compute, unlocking a new, very advanced set of abilities. For example, you can set a shortcut, which takes all the files you connect in your homepage and then sort them into files for you using Apple Intelligence. A gallery feature is also available to try some characteristics and get inspiration for construction.
6. Help
Hold Assist feature is a prime example of a feature that is not at the top, but your everyday life has the ability to save you a lot of time. The way it works is simple: if you are placed on hold and find out your phone music, it will ask if you want your call to be held in the spot line and inform you that it is your turn to speak with someone, to alert the person at the other end of the call that you will be there.
Also: Apple’s controversial research paper actually tells us about LLMS
Imagine how much time you will get from the call with customer service. If the convenience looks familiar, it is because Google has a uniform “hold for me” feature, which allows users to wait for you on hold and inform you when they come back.
7. Spatial photos
The Apple Vision Pro introduced the idea of enjoying your precious memories in an immersive experience that puts you in the scene. However, to take advantage of this feature, you had to take spatial photos and record spatial videos. Now, a similar feature is coming in iOS, allowing users to convert any picture into an image -like image that separates the foreground and background for a spatial effect.
Also: iOS 26 will bring any photos in life with 3D spatial effects on your iPhone
The best thing is that you can add these pictures to your lock screen, and as soon as you move your phone, the 3D element looks like it moves with it. It may seem that no AI is included, but according to SVP Craig Federegi of Software Engineering Apple, it can turn your 2D photo into a 3D effect using “advanced computer vision techniques running on the nerve engine”.
8. Workout big
It is not new to use AI to work Insights, as most fitness wearers, including whoop and OURA, have previously applied that kind of feature. However, the workout is a unique feature and an application of AI that I have not seen before. Essentially, it uses your fitness data, such as history, pace, activity rings and training loads, to give you unique response as you are working.
Also: Your Apple Watch is getting a major upgrade. Here Watchos 26 has the best features
Even though this feature is a part of the watches upgrade – and I do not have it for myself – it seems a fun and original way to use AI. As someone lacks all the desire to work, I can see that being a motivational reminder can have a positive effect on the longevity of my workout.
honorable mentions
The list above is already very wide, and yet, Apple unveiled a lot of AI features:
- Order tracking in Apple Wallet: Apple Intelligence details can analyze your email for tracking details and then populate all that information in Apple Wallet, even if you have used a different payment method compared to Apple.
- Election for messages: Apple Intelligence can find out in your messages when a pole can be useful and give a suggestion. Users can then use image playgrounds to create separate backgrounds for elections.
- Better route in map: Using on-device intelligence, users can better understand the user’s daily route and then suggest them more tool.
- Jeanmoji and image Playground: Genmoji update is simple. Now, you can add two emozis to create something new. The image playground was upgraded to take advantage of the image-generating model of Chatgate for specific styles.
How to get quick access
Apple released an iOS 26 bet to developers. Beta provides users access to all of the latest features available in iOS 26, but the negative side is that since the features are not fully developed, there are many buggy.
Therefore, if you want to try the features, then keep some things in mind that you will not get the best experience and as a result, either you would like to use a secondary phone or make sure your data will be backup properly in case of something wrong.
To start, you need an iPhone 11 or new running iOS 16.5 or later and apple ID used in Apple Developer Program. The ZDNET guide provides step-by-step instructions on downloading beta.
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