With the 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), I’m cautiously optimistic Apple is finally seeing what some of us have been saying for years. Having fumbled its big unveilings since at least 2023, while AI whizzed right past it, a glimmer of hope is emerging. Is it well founded?

Last week, I grumbled about Apple’s “vision” which is visionless at worst and horribly dystopian at best. What could have been different? I found myself imagining what WWDC23’s big announcement might have been if Steve Jobs were still living.

I watch Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) keynote every year like people watch the Superbowl — snacks, celebratory anticipation, the works. The greatest ones over the years remain memorable long after, conveying master showmanship and a clarity of vision for technology that makes life better. Ironically, while introducing a device called Vision Pro, this year’s conference felt like an aimless stumble towards dystopia.