Apple announced that its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will be held virtually from June 8 to June 12, with an opening-day in-person component for select developers and students at Apple Park, the company said in a statement. The weeklong event will highlight updates to Apple’s platform, including AI-related enhancements alongside new software and developer tools.
The company said the in-person attendance at Apple Park will be limited to developers and students for the event’s first day, while the broader series of presentations will be delivered online. The program is expected to cover a range of platform improvements aimed at developers working across Apple’s ecosystem.
At the prior WWDC, Apple’s presentations emphasized incremental improvements rather than broad, headline-grabbing AI ambitions. One example cited by Apple at that conference was live translations for phone calls, positioned as a feature that improves day-to-day use rather than the sweeping AI narratives promoted by some competitors.
Separately, Bloomberg News reported on Monday that Apple is preparing to introduce advertising within its Maps application as part of a broader initiative to grow services revenue. According to the report, which cited people with knowledge of the matter, an official announcement could arrive as early as this month. The report said retailers and brands would be able to bid for ad placements tied to search queries in Maps, functioning similarly to advertising in Google Maps.
The Bloomberg report added that Apple aims to roll out ads inside Maps as early as this summer, with the rollout spanning the iPhone, other Apple devices and web platforms. The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the report.
Apple’s services segment, which includes offerings such as Apple Music and iCloud as well as other software-based products, recorded revenue of $30.01 billion in the first quarter, a company record and broadly in line with analysts’ expectations.
Summary of key developments
- WWDC will take place online from June 8-12 with limited in-person attendance at Apple Park on the opening day.
- Event will showcase AI improvements, new software, and developer tools.
- Reports suggest Apple plans to add advertising to its Maps app as part of a services revenue expansion, with a possible announcement this month and a rollout as early as this summer.
Context on services revenue
Apple’s services revenue reached a record $30.01 billion in the first quarter, according to the company’s reported figures, a number that matched broadly with market expectations.