Apple partners with Google Gemini to rebuild Siri from the ground up
Apple announced a complete overhaul of its Siri voice assistant at WWDC 2026 on Monday, powered by Google Gemini. The new system, called "Siri AI," transforms Siri from a simple voice-controlled assistant into an AI companion that can handle complex tasks. Siri will now have its own dedicated app and will also work across existing Apple applications.
Users can ask Siri to perform multi-step tasks such as drafting messages by pulling information from the web, previous emails, calendar entries, and contacts. Siri will display text cards with results when users ask for information. Users can swipe down from the Dynamic Island to start a conversation by typing, or use the side button or "Hey Siri" voice command.
Apple executive Craig Federighi emphasized the company's privacy approach. "We believe privacy in AI is non-negotiable," he said. "Data is only used to execute your request, and outside experts can continue to verify this promise at any time."
Tim Cook announces departure at final WWDC as CEO
Tim Cook confirmed he will step down as Apple CEO, handing leadership to John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, on September 1, 2026. This WWDC marked Cook's final keynote address. The company also announced iOS 27, which supports all iPhones from iPhone 11 onward, making it the most compatible iOS release ever. Performance improvements include photos appearing 70% faster and AirDrop transfers 80% faster.
Wall Street bounces back led by tech and chipmaker gains
U.S. stocks rose on Monday, led by gains in the Nasdaq and chipmakers as investors sought bargains after Friday's sharp selloff. The tech-heavy rally was partly fueled by enthusiasm around Apple's AI announcements and broader optimism about the AI sector. Separately, Alphabet reportedly tapped Intel to make three million in-house chips, and Nvidia clinched deals with South Korean conglomerates including SK Group to advance AI infrastructure.