visionOS was the least mentioned of Apple’s apps at WWDC — that would have been tvOS — but it wasn’t the main thing.
Typically, the WWDC keynote includes a dedicated section for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. But this year, Apple is focusing on the development of a new Siri AI experience, Apple Intelligence, and cross-device functionality.
However, we’ve learned some new details about visionOS 27. Reading between the lines, I think we’ve also learned why the Vision Pro is Apple’s value, even if few people use the $3,499 headset. Vision Pro has a reputation for struggling to get a user base.
As Mashable’s tech editor, I’m one of the few people who still uses this head-worn computer. Apple sent me a headset for testing, and I’ll have a full review coming soon. So, as a Vision Pro user, here’s everything I found out at WWDC about visionOS 27 and the future of Apple Vision Pro.
Siri AI is coming to visionOS 27
Credit: Apple
The Vision Pro got a lot of attention early in the segment on Siri AI, the new Gemini-powered version of Siri coming to Apple devices this fall. To demonstrate the visual intelligence of Siri AI, Apple showed a video of the visionOS 27 experience.
Vision Pro users will have a 3D vision of Siri that will reside in their virtual environment as a floating, glowing bubble. Users can start talking to Siri at any time. In the example, the floating Siri AI can answer questions about the Safari page on the screen and the objects in the user’s view.
Credit: Apple
In addition to Siri AI, a new suite of Apple Intelligence tools will also be available to Vision Pro users. Now powered by Gemini, Apple users will be able to talk to Siri and quickly generate text, images, and transcriptions. Users will also benefit from context awareness. So, when you read a message about an upcoming flight, Apple Intelligence will automatically pull up your flight information.
Custom Environments
Credit: Apple
The environment is one of the coolest things about Vision Pro. These 360-degree computerized landscapes make it seem like you’re on the moon or in Hawaii. Browsing the Internet can be fun, but have you ever browsed the Internet from one of Jupiter’s moons?
With visionOS 27, users will be able to change their panorama photos to custom locations. This is a feature I’m excited to test out for myself.
Mashable Light Speed
Environment is a 360-degree spatial computing experience.
Credit: Apple
Engineer areas
In addition to turning your images into a custom Landscape, third-party developers will also have this capability. Apple’s website says, “Developers can provide a 360-degree background that completely surrounds your virtual environment and makes browsing more immersive.”
How visionOS benefits other Apple products
Credit: Apple
Almost all of the AI features Apple talked about at WWDC are already widely available on Android devices or through AI chatbots like Gemini, with one notable exception.
When discussing updates to the Camera app, Apple also introduced “Location Reinvention.” This tool is unique to Apple devices, and allows users to adjust the angle, perspective, or zoom of images using local models on the device. Apple specifically praised the spatial and visual intelligence technology that powers visionOS as the genesis of Spatial Reframing.
Therefore, although this AI programming tool is not specific to the Vision Pro headset, it shows how visionOS technology can be useful for Apple, even if the product does not have widespread adoption.
As a related note, Mike Rockwell, the former head of Vision Pro at Apple, has since been tapped to lead the Siri AI and Apple Intelligence efforts, which can’t be a coincidence. With Apple’s rumored 2027 smart glasses, the new artificial intelligence features highlighted at WWDC 2026 may set the stage for the launch of Apple’s next big device.
General development
The new Siri AI tool will appear as a floating AI widget. You can start talking to it at any time.
Credit: Apple
During the keynote, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, said that standard development was focused on the new generation of applications. And on its website, Apple says visionOS 27 includes “tons of improvements that make your Apple Vision Pro even more responsive, reliable, and fun to use.”
This will include the ability to expand notifications with your eyes and a new look for the control center.
In the press release, Apple said “connecting to Wi-Fi is up to 3x faster” in visionOS 27. Not much else to say about that.
Is there a future for Apple Vision Pro?
The new Siri AI interface on Apple Vision Pro headsets.
Credit: Apple
I hope so! I enjoyed testing the Vision Pro headset, though I can’t give it a full recommendation because of its $3,500 price tag. However, it still has a small dedicated user base, and Apple has introduced some really cool sports experiences in the past few months.
A possible follow-up, the Vision Pro 2, could arrive in 2027 or 2028, but lack of sales could lead Apple to give the product the ax.
However, WWDC showed that even if the Vision Pro doesn’t generate a ton of sales, the underlying technology could have downstream benefits for a number of current and future Apple devices.
visionOS 27 is available as a developer beta now, and will be available on all Vision Pro headsets in the fall.
