The 7 best AI features announced at Apple's WWDC that I can't wait to use

Apple Worldwide Developers’ Conference (WWDC) was expected to have little AI news — but Apple proved everyone wrong. 

Even though Apple has not yet launched the highly anticipated Siri upgrade — the company said we will hear more about it in the coming year — when it came to event time, Apple unveiled a slew of AI features across its devices and operating systems, including iOS, MacOS, WatchOS, and iPadOS. 

Also: Apple’s secret sauce is exactly what AI is missing

While not being the most flashy features, many of them address issues that Apple users already had with their devices or in their everyday workflows. 

I gathered the AI features announced and ranked them from most to least helpful.

1. Visual Intelligence

Apple introduced Visual Intelligence last year with the iPhone 16 launch. At the time, Apple’s Visual Intelligence allowed users to take a photo of objects around them and then use the iPhone’s AI capability to search for them and find more information. Monday, Apple upgraded the experience by adding Visual Intelligence to your iPhone screen. 

To use it, you just have to take a screenshot. Visual Intelligence can use Apple Intelligence to grab the details from your screenshot and suggest actions, such as adding an event to your calendar. You can also use the “ask button” to ask ChatGPT for help with a particular image. This is useful for tasks in which ChatGPT could provide assistance, such as solving a puzzle. You can also tap on “Search” to look on the web. 

Also: Your entire iPhone screen is now searchable with new Visual Intelligence features

Although Google already offered the same capability years ago with Circle to Search, this is a big win for Apple users, as it is functional and was executed well. It leverages ChatGPT’s already capable models rather than trying to build an inferior one itself. 

2. Real-Time Translation 

Since generative AI exploded in popularity, a useful application that has emerged is real-time translation. Because LLMs have a deep understanding of language and how people speak, they are able to translate speech not just literally but also accurately using additional context. Apple will roll out this powerful capability across its own devices with a new real-time translation feature. 

Also: Apple Intelligence is getting more languages – and AI-powered translation

The feature can translate text in Messages and audio on FaceTime and phone calls. If you are using it for verbal conversations, you just click a button on your call, which alerts the other person that the live translation is about to take place. After a speaker says something, there is a brief pause, and then you get audio feedback with a conversational version of what was said in your language of choice, with a transcript you can follow along. 

This feature is valuable because it can help people communicate with each other. It is also easy to access because it is being baked into communication platforms people already rely on every day. 

3. Apple Intelligence On-Device Model Now Available to Developers

Apple made its on-device model available to developers for the first time, and although that may seem like it would only benefit developers, it’s a major win for all users. Apple has a robust community of developers who build applications for Apple’s operating systems. Tapping into that talent by allowing them to build on Apple Intelligence nearly guarantees that more innovative and useful applications using Apple Intelligence will emerge, which is beneficial to all users since they will be able to take advantage of them. 

4. Shortcuts using Apple Intelligence

The Shortcuts update was easy to miss during the keynote, but it is one of the best use cases for AI. If you are like me, you typically avoid programming Shortcuts because they seem too complicated to create. This is where Apple Intelligence can help. 

Also: Shortcuts is the best Apple app you’re not using – and iOS 26 makes it even more powerful

With the new intelligent actions features, you can tap into Apple Intelligence models either on-device or in Private Cloud Compute within your Shortcut, unlocking a new, much more advanced set of capabilities. For example, you could set up a Shortcut that takes all the files you add to your homepage and then sorts them into files for you using Apple Intelligence. There is also a gallery feature available to try out some of the features and get inspiration for building. 

5. Hold Assist

The Hold Assist feature is a prime example of a feature that is not over the top but has the potential to save you a lot of time in your everyday life. The way it works is simple: if you’re placed on hold and your phone detects hold music, it will ask if you want your call spot held in line and notify you when it’s your turn to speak with someone, alerting the person on the other end of the call that you will be right there.

Also: These 3 Apple CarPlay upgrades stole WWDC 2025 for me

Imagine how much time you will get back from calls with customer service. If the feature seems familiar, it’s because Google has a similar “Hold for me” feature, which allows users to use Call Assist to wait on hold for you and notify you when they are back.

6. Spatial photos 

The Apple Vision Pro introduced the idea of enjoying your precious memories in an immersive experience that places 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 to iOS, allowing users to transform any picture they have into a 3D-like image that separates the foreground and background for a spatial effect. 

Also: iOS 26 will bring any photo on your iPhone to life with 3D spatial effects

The best part is that you can add these photos to your lock screen, and as you move your phone, the 3D element looks like it moves with it. It may seem like there is no AI involved, but according to Craig Federighi, Apple’s SVP of software engineering, it can transform your 2D photo into a 3D effect by using “advanced computer vision techniques running on the Neural Engine. ” 

7. Workout Buddy

Using AI for working out insights isn’t new, as most fitness wearable companies, including Whoop and Oura, have implemented a feature of that sort before. However, Workout Buddy is a unique feature and an application of AI I haven’t seen before. Essentially, it uses your fitness data, such as history, paces, Activity Rings, and Training Load, to give you unique feedback as you are working out. 

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Even though this feature is a part of the WatchOS upgrade — and I don’t happen to own one — it does seem like a fun and original way to use AI. As someone who lacks all desire to work out, I can see that having a motivational reminder can have a positive impact on the longevity of my workout. 

Honorable mentions

The list above is already pretty extensive, and yet, Apple unveiled a lot more AI features: 

• Order tracking in Apple Wallet: Apple Intelligence can analyze your emails for tracking details and then populate all of that information in Apple Wallet, even if you used a different payment method than Apple Pay. 
• Polls for Messages: Apple Intelligence can detect in your messages when a poll could be useful and suggest one. Users can then use Image Playground to create different backgrounds for the polls. 
• Automix in Apple Music: The AutoMix feature uses intelligence to add seamless transitions from one song to another, mimicking what a DJ would do with time stretching and beat matching. 
• Better routes in maps: Using on-device intelligence, users can better understand a user’s daily route and then give them more tailored suggestions. 
• Genmoji and Image Playground: The Genmoji update is simple. Now, you can mix two emojis to create something new. Image Playground was upgraded to create images leveraging ChatGPT’s image-generating model for specific styles. 

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