Deepwater Asset Management's Gene Munster has high hopes for the 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) from Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL). Here's why he believes this year's event could be “the most important WWDC” in the 43-year history of the event.
2026 WWDC Preview
Well-known tech investor Gene Munster says WWDC will show that Apple is a leader in personalized AI and not just an AI follower. The event runs from Monday, June 8, through Friday, June 12.
"Now it's time for Apple to convince investors that future products will be infused with compelling AI features that only Apple can pull off," Munster said in a blog post.
Munster pokes fun at himself for framing the last two WWDC events as the most important in the company's history, ahead of labeling 2026 with the same importance.
"All of my high bars are based on a belief that the substance of AI will exceed the hype, and Apple has been slow to get going after capitalizing on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Munster said that recent iPhone sales growth shows that customers were eagerly awaiting AI upgrades, with iPhone sales up 16% year-over-year in the last four quarters, compared to a 1% year-over-year increase in the previous four years.
The long-awaited "New Siri" could make its debut at WWDC this week. Munster said this could allow "AI to supercharge personal context in a secure form." Apple users will be able to find information while staying inside the Apple ecosystem.
With high expectations for WWDC, Munster said it's important to remember what is shown by the company could still be a work in progress.
"In other words, the product is close, but more patience is needed from investors."
Alongside the new Siri, Munster said WWDC will likely focus heavily on iOS 27 and macOS 27, both of which are expected to launch in the fall of 2026.
What's Next for Apple Stock
Munster says Apple investors have been waiting for new AI advancements from the company, which has been particularly hard with peers rolling out their own products.
The tech investor names Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) as companies that have launched "compelling AI products" over the last two years.
"Apple is famously late to new markets and finds a way to quickly catch up," Munster said. "That said, AI has been moving faster than previous tech shifts, which makes the slow start feel more acute."
Munster said that even without growth in AI leadership, Apple may be all right with Android having a lack of new AI features that captured "consumer excitement."
The tech investor shows that Apple customer loyalty remains strong, with the following annual increases in the base of active devices for the company based on January of each year:
- 2022: 9%
- 2023: 11%
- 2024: 10%
- 2025: 7%
- 2026: 6%
"If they fail, investors can sleep well at night knowing that the personalized AI revolution has not begun, and while investors may not wait around, Apple's loyal base will."
Apple Stock Price Action
Apple stock is up 1.7% to $321.46 on Monday versus a 52-week trading range of $195.07 to $316.94. Apple stock is up 15.3% year-to-date in 2026.
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