The Apple WWDC26 keynote presentation was heavily themed around AI, a buzzword that has grown increasingly ubiquitous in recent years. While the tech's hype train has been a trying experience for many, the presentation also showcased several new functions coming to the iPhone this year that demonstrate AI's potential for good.
One such feature is the Passwords app, which will alert users when their login details are vulnerable and offer to update them automatically. This convenient and secure feature will simplify the often-daunting task of password maintenance.
Another AI-powered feature is Call Context, which predicts information users will need based on who they're talking to. For example, if a user calls an airline, the feature will surface the relevant flight confirmation from Mail.
In iOS 27, Siri's voice can be customized using two independent sliders, one for speed and one for expressiveness. This change is not just cosmetic; it aims to improve the user experience by making Siri's voice more human and less annoying.
The new Ask to Browse feature allows parents to grant their kids permission to access new websites remotely, making it easier to control their browsing habits. This feature is a welcome addition to iOS's existing parental controls.
Users will also be able to adjust the volume of their alarms independently from the general ringtone volume. This simple yet useful feature has been a long time coming.
Other notable changes in iOS 27 include automatic retries for failed messages, expiring shared albums, and improved tab organization in Safari. The latter feature uses AI to group tabs by topic, making it easier to keep track of browsing history.
Safari is also getting a new Notify Me feature, which allows users to build custom alerts for specific changes to specific websites. This feature has the potential to revolutionize the way users interact with websites.
Finally, iOS 27 will bring significant improvements to HomeKit, including automatic analysis of security camera imagery and related notifications. This feature aims to make security setups more useful and user-friendly.
