Analyst’s WWDC Predictions: New Siri-Integrated Beats Product, Improved AI, Digital Health Functionality

Apple will introduce new Siri, AR, AI, and Digital Health functionality along with a new $250 USD Beats product featuring Siri integration at this year’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference.

That’s according to a new blog post from Loup Ventures analyst Gene Munster highlighting his predictions for the 2018 WWDC.  Munster’s other predictions for the event include new HomePod capabilities, extra Core ML extensions, and more:

  • We expect Monday’s keynote to be highlighted by extending the reach of Siri (most likely adding new domains, opening HomePod to more capabilities, and integrating Spotlight), along with additional AI tools (new Core ML extensions). 
  • We also anticipate new features around digital health (privacy and device management) and ARKit (development tools). 
  • Expect Siri integration with Beats. 
  • Collectively, these announcements advance the ease of use and intelligence of Apple’s mobile and desktop experiences.

Apple may be planning to unveil a $250 USD Beats product (presumably a speaker) that will feature Siri integration much like the HomePod. According to Munster, this product will allow Apple to “advance its digital assistant ambitions.”

Munster also expects Apple to introduce new Siri domains, supporting “navigation and email,” for example. An integrated Spotlight Search will also be introduced, improving Siri’s performance overall.

Apple will also announce new domains for CoreML, the machine learning SDK that Apple introduced with the launch of iOS 11. While Munster doesn’t have any predictions as to what these new domains might be, CoreML currently features developer tools such as face detection, handwriting recognition, realtime image recognition, and more.

The analyst predicts that Apple’s upcoming iOS 12 will feature a device management tool that will help users manage screen time and digital anxiety, along with improvements to data-sharing transparency.

Overall, a focus on ARKit and ML Core seems obvious, while a better Siri for HomePod will certainly be welcome if Apple chooses to introduce it. It’s important to take all of these prediction with a grain of salt until next Monday. After all, as Munster himself notes: “We express no warranties about any estimates or opinions we make.”

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