Apple’s highly anticipated Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 has left fans and investors with mixed feelings. While the tech giant continues to dominate headlines, this year’s event fell short of delivering the groundbreaking AI advancements that many had hoped for. Instead, Apple’s focus shifted to a significant redesign of its software, introducing what it calls the “biggest facelift in over a decade.”
A Lackluster AI Push
AI innovation—or the lack thereof—was a major talking point during the event. Unlike its competitors, Apple’s announcements in the AI space were more incremental than revolutionary. UBS analyst David Vogt noted that many of the features unveiled, such as improved Siri integration and AI-driven language translations, were already available through competitors like Google and OpenAI. Investors were unimpressed, with Apple’s stock dropping 1.2% on the day of the event.
The disappointment also stems from the delayed rollout of Apple’s AI assistant, Apple Intelligence, which was announced last year. Originally pitched as a more personal and intuitive version of Siri, Apple Intelligence was expected to redefine conversational AI. However, delays and quality control issues have pushed its release indefinitely, leaving fans and analysts questioning Apple’s commitment to staying competitive in the AI race.
A Bold New Look: Liquid Glass
While the AI updates underwhelmed, Apple unveiled a significant redesign across its product lineup. Dubbed “Liquid Glass,” the new design language will feature transparent, fluid interfaces with curved elements that mimic glass. Buttons are now pill-shaped and animations smoother, offering a visually striking update that will debut in iOS, iPadOS, WatchOS, and VisionOS later this year.
The redesign is Apple’s first major overhaul since the launch of iOS 7 in 2013. According to Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi, this change was driven by advancements in Apple’s hardware, particularly its custom silicon chips, which now have the power to handle such visually demanding features.
“Apple Silicon has become dramatically more powerful—enabling software, materials, and experiences we once could only dream of,” Federighi said.
The Liquid Glass design takes inspiration from VisionOS, Apple’s software for its Vision Pro virtual reality headset. While some praised the updated aesthetic, others likened it to the controversial Windows Vista interface from 2007, sparking debate on social media.
Functional Improvements: AI-Driven Translation and ChatGPT Integration
Despite the lack of groundbreaking AI announcements, Apple did highlight a few functional upgrades. One notable feature is real-time language translation during phone calls. Using on-device AI, the new tool translates spoken sentences and generates an AI-powered voice to communicate in another language—all without requiring an internet connection.
Apple also expanded its collaboration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, integrating image analysis capabilities directly into iOS. For instance, users can now take a screenshot and use ChatGPT to summarize text or analyze the image content—a small but practical enhancement for productivity.
A New Naming Convention
In a move to simplify its naming system, Apple announced that its operating systems will now be named after the year they are released. This means the next iOS version, set to launch in September, will be called iOS 26. Similarly, iPadOS, WatchOS, tvOS, and VisionOS will adopt the same convention. The change is intended to streamline Apple’s branding and make it easier for users to keep track of software updates.
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