iOS 18 brings with it a collection of robust features to drive user experience, performance, and developer productivity. The most notable updates are further integration of on-device AI via Apple's new GenAI SDK, significant SwiftUI advancements for creating even more dynamic interfaces, and increasing capabilities for spatial computing on Vision Pro. Xcode 16 adds productivity, real-time collaboration features, and improved debugging. iOS 18 also prioritizes privacy with new permissions management and data access transparency. This update is a major push towards smart, context-aware apps — making it crucial for developers to shift early.

A few months from now, your iPhone will know you too well. You may find yourself talking to it and asking it to find that picture from Easter, the one with the baby wearing a bunny outfit and the dogs dressed like eggs, and to send it to your wife and in-laws. And then Siri will do all of it, without you needing to lift a finger. Thanks to a suite of new AI features coming from Apple, Siri will soon know who your wife and in-laws are, know what’s in all your photos, and will fulfill almost any request you could ask of your iPhone.

Apple often publicizes its international research facilities but will be quiet about them if the news would reveal anything about future plans. So Apple Insider, for instance, has previously uncovered a secret facility in Sunnyvale, California.