Brace yourselves as Apple Watch is getting ready for a big leap—it is said that the next-generation watchOS 12 will ship with a whole new set of features powered by AI. This will bring “Apple Intelligence” to the device, forever changing the interaction paradigm between users and their Apple Watch.
Apple Intelligence: The AI Revolution on Your Wrist
As reported by 9to5Mac, along with Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple is planning to use the branding “powered by Apple Intelligence” for the new features coming in watchOS 12. This essentially means that Apple is planning to expand the reach of AI to its ecosystem, now including the widely used smartwatch.
So, iPhone Dependency: AI Processing Power
This focus on “Apple Intelligence” features comes with servicing one glaring limitation: that iPhones would carry the burden of running advanced algorithms. The report does make one important distinction, however: the Apple Watch will not directly run the AI models. The majority of these features will be enabled to a greater extent through the processing capabilities of the paired iPhone. It is like how Apple manages notification summaries on its Apple Watches with watchOS 11; the actual AI work is done on the iPhone. The same logic underpins the Reduce Interruptions Focus feature.
What to Expect from Apple in WWDC 2025: A Teaser
As for now, information on the AI-integrated capabilities features is quite limited. However, Apple is said to give more details during WWDC 2025 in June. During this conference, Apple is known to present fresh innovations on its operating systems, which serve as a stage to flaunt its technological prowess.
Beyond AI: A watchOS 12 Update
As mentioned, the addition of AI features is not the only focus for watchOS 12. It is anticipated that the new version will also implement design changes that align with the expected iOS 19 updates. Such changes are likely to be the adoption of more rounded app icons, changing system menus, and lively effects throughout the software interface. These design modifications seek to update and sharpen the brand image associated with the product.
A Bolder Step Towards the Apple Watch: More AI-integrated Features
The use of Apple Intelligence on the Apple Watch is believed to be one of the initial steps towards having the device be smarter and more user-intuitive. With AI, Apple plans to further improve the usability of Apple Watch for an easier, customized, and effective performance as required by the users. The announcement is most likely to delight Apple fans alongside the technology industry.
