Apple iOS 27: Upcoming AI Revolution and Satellite Features

What New Features Are Expected for iOS 27?

As the WWDC approaches, scheduled for June 8-12, 2026, information is beginning to emerge regarding the new features Apple might introduce with iOS 27. These revelations come from code snippets discovered within Apple's operating systems, suggesting significant updates for Visual Intelligence, Wallet, and the Safari browser.

AI and Satellite: Here’s What Apple Is Preparing for iOS 27

Details about iOS 27 are becoming clearer as Apple’s annual developer conference draws near. Among the anticipated features, four new capabilities of Apple Intelligence stand out. Meanwhile, Apple is ramping up efforts to enhance satellite connectivity.

iOS 27: Visual Intelligence Tackles Labels, Contacts, and Wallet

Visual Intelligence, a computer vision feature utilizing the iPhone's camera sensor, may soon offer two new functionalities. First, by pointing the iPhone at a nutrition label, users could obtain details about the ingredients, with a potential connection to the Health app for dietary tracking. This feature could transform how users manage their daily nutrition.

Secondly, Visual Intelligence would allow users to scan a business card or any printed document to automatically add a contact, phone number, or address to their directory. This functionality is based on the same principle that allows users to add an event to the Calendar by photographing a poster. These innovations aim to simplify and automate daily tasks for users.

In Safari, an AI feature could automatically name groups of tabs based on their content. For instance, if ten tabs are open around the same topic, Safari would suggest a relevant title, sparing the user from having to do it manually. This type of thematic organization is already present in other browsers like Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Brave.

The most anticipated change concerns Wallet. Apple is considering enabling the conversion of physical passes into digital cards. Whether it’s paper tickets, gym memberships, or loyalty cards, users would simply need to scan the barcode to create a digital version directly in Wallet. This feature, already available in Google Wallet since August 2024, and offered by third-party apps like Passwallet.app, would thus become native to iOS.

It is important to note that this information, reported by MacRumors, should be taken with caution. The exact functionality of these features and their inclusion in the final version of iOS 27 remains uncertain.

Satellite: 5G, Apple Maps, Photos, and Access for Third-Party Developers

The partnership between Apple and GlobalStar, recently acquired by Amazon, continues despite this change in ownership. Apple is working on new satellite features for the iPhone, with four development areas identified.

The most notable development concerns speed. The C2 modems expected to equip the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra could support 5G via satellite. Currently, satellite connectivity on iPhone is slow and limited to sending text messages, primarily in emergency situations. The integration of 5G would make these uses much more practical for everyday use.

Apple Maps could also benefit from satellite connectivity, allowing access to mapping without Wi-Fi or cellular network. This means that a hiking app using Apple Maps APIs would continue to function even in areas without mobile coverage.

In addition to text messages, sending photos via Messages through satellite is also being considered. In emergency situations, it would thus be possible to transmit an image of an injury or visually signal a location. Apple is also working on an API open to third-party developers, allowing them to integrate satellite connectivity into their applications. According to Bloomberg (via 9to5Mac), this API would initially be limited to safety functions, with broader access expected as satellite coverage expands.