Apple Inc. is preparing for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) from June 8-12, which will be Tim Cook's last major appearance as CEO. Analyst Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities anticipates that this event will be pivotal for Apple's artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, particularly with the expected launch of iOS 27 and integrations with AI technologies from Gemini and Anthropic. Ives believes that Apple is finally ready to execute its long-promised AI initiatives, marking a significant shift in sentiment after years of unmet expectations. He highlighted Apple's vast ecosystem, comprising 2.5 billion iOS devices, as a crucial advantage in the consumer AI market. Ives envisions Apple acting as a 'toll collector' on the consumer AI highway, initiating a long-term monetization strategy. He also noted that under the upcoming leadership of John Ternus, Apple is poised to expand its services and engage developers more effectively, potentially allowing 20% of global consumers to access AI through Apple devices.