Apple WWDC 25: Tech Giant Doubles Down on Design Over AI, Leaving Several Users’ Expectations Unmet

At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 25), the tech giant shifted its focus from the anticipated AI advancements to a major software design overhaul.

Expectations for major AI advancements, particularly a revamped, AI-powered Siri, went unmet, leaving many disappointed.

Instead of unveiling the highly anticipated “more personalized” Siri promised at WWDC 24, Apple delayed its release, with SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi stating that the update needed more time to meet quality standards.

He said,

“As we’ve shared, we’re continuing our work to deliver the features that make Siri even more personal. This work needed more time to reach our high-quality bar, and we look forward to sharing more about it in the coming year.”

The company first announced the delay in March, shifting leadership by replacing SVP of Machine Learning and AI Strategy John Giannandrea with Mike Rockwell, formerly of Vision Pro, signaling internal struggles to keep pace with AI rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.

The lack of AI progress sparked concern among investors, with Apple shares dipping post-event, and users voicing frustration over Siri’s lag behind competitors’ custom GPTs, multimodal agents, and creative copilots.

A LinkedIn User @Geetansh Pardhi wrote,

“After watching WWDC, I’d give Apple Intelligence a ?/??. Yes, there’s a sprinkle of ChatGPT. Yes, Siri got a revamp. But in the grand scheme of things… it still feels like Apple is catching up, not leading.

“Meanwhile, competitors are releasing custom GPTs, multimodal agents, and creative copilots at a rapid pace. As someone who works with AI daily, I find that Siri is still too far from being a reliable assistant. Apple plays the long game, sure. But in AI? The game’s moving faster than ever.”

Founder of Sentiment Louis Gleeson wrote,

“This isn’t the company that used to ship culture-defining products out of nowhere. This is a trillion-dollar giant playing catch-up. Steve Jobs once said: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

“Right now? Apple looks like a follower. Big moves are coming from players like OpenAI, Perplexity, and startups you haven’t even heard of yet. And if Apple doesn’t regain its product soul soon, it won’t just lose relevance in AI. They’ll lose the next generation entirely.”

Several others are of the opinion that Apple may get lost in the dust as they continue to lag the field in AI. They emphasized that big leaps are made, and Apple seems like a spectator, which may endanger the iPhone.

Industry analysts, including Wedbush Securities’ Daniel Ives, warned that Apple’s cautious, privacy-focused approach, while admirable, risks losing ground in the fast-moving AI race, potentially threatening the iPhone’s dominance.

Ives said,

“Apple needs to move faster in the AI space if it wants to remain competitive. Their focus on privacy and caution is admirable, but the tech world won’t wait.”

While others worry that Apple risks falling behind as AI becomes increasingly central to both devices and software worldwide, some industry watchers have praised the Cupertino’s giant cautious approach as responsible.

In place of AI revelations, Apple showcased its largest software design overhaul in a decade, a sleek new aesthetic it calls “Liquid Glass.” The refreshed look, characterized by transparency, depth, and a fluid visual style, now spans across Apple’s entire ecosystem.

Looking ahead

Apple’s focus on design over AI innovation underscores a strategic divide, raising questions about its ability to keep up in a rapidly evolving field. As the tech giant doubles down on privacy and careful innovation, the question remains whether this approach can enable it to keep pace in an industry rapidly shaped by AI.