The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, WWDC, announced for June 10, 2024, will undoubtedly be the event of the year. We are expecting the presentation of iOS 18, as well as the new operating system for our Macs: macOS 15. Although the focus of the rumors prior to the event usually revolves mainly around iOS, macOS updates usually share many features with their mobile counterpart, giving us hints about what we can expect from the new operating system for Mac.
AI will reach all systems
One of the most prominent aspects of macOS 15, as far as we know, will be the incorporation of artificial intelligence-focused features. Just like we already expect from our iPhone operating system, macOS 15 will enjoy practically the same innovations, if not more. The ones we currently know about are these:
- AI-generated playlists on Apple Music: promising a more personalized and dynamic music selection.
- Writing assistance in Pages and presentation creation in Keynote: where AI will seek to support the way we generate content, making the process more intuitive and efficient, and moving from the templates that exist today to documents made and completed according to our needs and guidelines.
- Code writing features in Xcode: a tool that could significantly transform software development, offering AI-generated suggestions and corrections, as well as much more detailed error detection and code auditing.
- Improvements in Siri and deeper integration with the Shortcuts app: with improved natural language conversations and greater customization on our part, Siri could become an even more powerful and versatile assistant, and above all, much more capable thanks to the Shortcuts app.
At this point, we must remember that there is also the agreement between Apple and Google or OpenAI to integrate advanced language models into the system. However, we must consider something here. Apple’s strategy to balance processing between the cloud and the local device makes particular sense on the iPhone, given its lower processing power compared to Macs. This balance allows for optimizing performance and energy efficiency on mobile devices.
On the other hand, on the Mac, where processing power is significantly higher, there is a very interesting field for the implementation of a greater number of AI capabilities directly on the device. This expanded capacity for local processing could allow Apple to develop and offer more advanced and personalized AI features in macOS 15, making the most of Mac hardware to provide a completely new user experience, while maintaining high standards of privacy and security.
macOS is not only about AI
In addition to the AI-based features, macOS 15 promises to bring other innovations that, once again, come from leaks related to iOS 18. The list, although short, is interesting:
- Improved Accessibility: with the introduction of an Adaptive Voice Shortcuts system to customize phrases and settings, macOS 15 aims to be even more inclusive and user-friendly.
- Updates in Freeform: with a Scenes feature that will allow us to select specific sections within our boards, improving navigation and teamwork.
- Improvements in Maps: with support for custom routes and topographic maps. These updates suggest that we may see more improvements on the iPhone and that these latest features will also arrive on the Mac.
What name will macOS 15 have?
Since 2013, Apple has named its operating systems macOS with reference to places in California, keeping this tradition alive until today with, it must be said, some jokes at WWDC courtesy of Craig Federighi.
Among the names already registered by Apple and not yet used, we find options such as Redwood, Grizzly, Sequoia, Mammoth, Pacific, Rincon, Farallon, Miramar, Condor, Diablo and Shasta. Of course, Apple could surprise us by choosing an unregistered name, as has happened in previous occasions, but these are possibilities to consider.
When will macOS 15 be released?
macOS 15 will be presented at the keynote of the WWDC 2024 on Monday, June 10th, with the first beta available for developers on the same day. It is expected that the public beta will be available during the summer, culminating in a public release in the fall, probably in September or October, after the arrival of the iPhone 16.
The arrival of macOS 15 promises to mark a milestone in the evolution of Apple’s operating systems, not only because of the integration of AI technologies, but also because of improvements in accessibility and customization. As we approach WWDC 2024, we may know more, although since software development is always very internal within Apple, most of the innovations will undoubtedly take us by surprise.
